Bahia, the third power in the national mining sector, is expected to receive investments worth US$9 billion between 2025 and 2029, according to forecasts by the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM) and the Brazilian Mineral Production Company (CBPM). During his participation in Exposibram, CBPM President Henrique Carballal said that at least 17 municipalities in the state will receive projects in the mining area in the coming years.
One of the most notable projects will be the Ferro Verde project, developed by Brazil Steel in partnership with CBPM. “This project will allow Bahia to start producing hot briquetted iron (HBI), which is essential for transforming the global steel industry. Its total investment will reach US$5.7 billion in the state,” Carballal said.
Another partnership of CBPM, with Homerun Brasil, is the Brasil Transpence project, which invested R$1.8 billion to install the first solar glass plant outside China – in the municipality of Belmonte, in the southern region of the state.
In 2023, CBPM has allocated R$55 million to the research area. “CBPM is today the Brazilian company with the largest investment in mineral research and one of the most credible in the country. We maintain one of the largest and most diverse lithic libraries in Brazil, a collection that represents an enormous heritage of accumulated geological knowledge, reinforcing Bahia’s leading role in the development of the mineral sector,” said the CEO.
Opening the event, Raoul Jungmann, CEO of Ibrahim, stressed the importance of investments in technology and qualified labor. “We need investments in Brazil’s mineral sector. We highlight two very important areas for mining, namely technology and professional qualifications. Today, Brazil is already advancing in these aspects, but we still need to develop. We will only achieve this through investments in technology, people, logistics and other areas.”
Investments in logistics are also key to the development of the mineral sector in northeastern Brazil. Alex Trevisan, Commercial and Terminal Director at Transnordestina Logística, highlighted the importance of railways for national mining. Currently, Transnordestina has R$10.7 billion of invested resources, a length of 1,206 kilometers and 4,053 employees. According to Tervisan, the project is expanding to include the Port of Becem in Fortaleza, with the final section already reaching the final bidding stage and with an expected delivery date.
“We have a deadline of September 2027 to connect the railway to the port of Becem. The railway starts in the interior of Piaui, in the municipality of Eliseo Martins, and has already made 75% progress until the port of Ceara in its final state. There are 676 completed kilometers and another 280 kilometers under construction in the first phase of the project. At this stage, we are in the final stage of obtaining permits to start the process. In total, when the railway reaches the port, the director explained 15 billion Brazilian reals will be invested.
Bahia’s mining sector has also shown growth in compensation for mineral resource exploration (CFEM). According to Ibrahim’s figures, in 2023, the state collected R$160 million, and in 2024, R$167 million. Currently, Bahia accounts for 2% of the national share, behind only Minas Gerais (45%) and Pará (41%).
Bahia has also stood out for its mining-related job creation. Ibrahim’s research shows that the mineral sector in Bahia generated 15,823 direct jobs and more than 170,000 indirect jobs. In Brazil, the sector generates 220,841 direct jobs and about 2.4 million indirect jobs.
In terms of revenue, Brazil will reach R$270.8 billion in 2024, with Bahia occupying fourth place in the national rankings. In 2023, the country had R$9.7 billion and in 2024 its revenues reached R$10.1 billion. Minas Gerais recorded R$108.3 billion in 2024. Para, R$97.6 billion and São Paulo, R$10.3 billion last year, according to figures provided by Ibrahim in Exposibram.
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