SAO PAULO, July 25 (Reuters) - Brazilian miner Vale

, one of the world's largest iron ore producers, said

on Thursday its second-quarter net profit soared to $2.77

billion, triple the year-earlier period and above analyst

estimates as sales jumped.

Analysts polled by LSEG were expecting a $1.70 billion net

profit. The result was also 65% higher than in the first

quarter, when net profit totaled $1.68 billion.

In addition to higher iron ore sales, Vale said net profit

had a positive impact of $1.05 billion resulting from the

divestment of PT Vale Indonesia that concluded in June. Analysts

said it accounted in part for the better-than-expected earnings.

The company's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes,

depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) totaled $3.99 billion in

the April-June period, slightly below an analyst estimate of

$4.06 billion.

Net operating revenue rose 3% to $9.9 billion.

Vale said its shipments in iron ore, its biggest segment,

increased 7% from the year before.

The result led the company to maintain its goal of reaching

the higher end of its production target for 2024 at 320 million

tons.

Even so, higher freight costs and maintenance work impacted

proforma EBTIDA, which was 6% lower than the second quarter last

year, Vale said.

The average realized price for iron ore fines in the second

quarter was $98.2 per ton, about flat compared with the year

before.

The expanded net debt fell slightly from the first quarter

of the year to reach $14.7 billion, due mostly to the proceeds

from the joint venture begun in April with Manara Minerals.

The amount is within Vale's target range of $10 billion to

$20 billion.