Bloomberg reported that Samarco Mineracao SA, an iron-ore pellets producer controlled by Vale SA and BHP Billiton Plc, will extend a partial production stoppage in Brazil for an additional four months because of low demand.

the Rio de Janeiro newspaper O Globo, citing unnamed company sources as saying that the company will also send some of its 2,000 employees on paid leave at half salary for 30 days at a time.

The company started reducing output in November, it said.

(Sourced from Bloomberg)