Brazilian iron ore giant Vale (NYSE: VALE) posted net income of US$5.35bn for 2009, compared to US$13.2bn the previous year.
Revenues came in at US$23.9bn, down from US$38.5bn the year before, the Rio de Janeiro-based company said in its latest financial results released late Wednesday.
Even so, the company, the world’s largest iron ore producer and exporter, described its 2009 operational and financial performance as “solid” given the “significant challenges brought by the great recession.”
Vale is due to hold a conference call on the financial results on Thursday March 4.