Vale is engaged in the production and export of iron ore, pellets, manganese and ferroalloys. It operates through the following sectors: Ferrous Metals, Base Metals and Coal. The Ferrous Metal Minerals segment includes the production and mining of iron ore, iron ore pellets, manganese, other ferrous metal products, and logistics services. The base metals segment involves the production and extraction of nickel and its by-products. The coal segment includes the production and mining of metallurgical and thermal coals and their logistics services. The company was founded on June 1, 1942 and is headquartered in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.