RIO DE JANEIRO/SAO PAULO, Oct 21 (Reuters) -

Brazilian miner Vale reported on Tuesday its

highest quarterly iron ore production since 2018, and said it is

on track to reach the upper band of its 2025 production target

for its three main businesses.

Vale, one of the world's largest iron ore miners, produced

94.4 million metric tons of the steelmaking material in the

third quarter, a 3.8% increase year-on-year and the highest

since the last three months of 2018.

Vale said the performance was boosted by record production

for any third quarter in its S11D mining project in northern

Brazil and the ramp-up of other projects.

The company estimated iron ore output of 325 million to 335

million tons in 2025. In the first nine months of the year,

production totaled 245.7 million tons.

Vale said its iron ore, copper and nickel businesses "are

tracking towards the upper end of the 2025 production guidance

ranges," according to its sales and output report.

The firm's sales of iron ore, including pellets, rose 5.1%

year-on-year to 86 million tons in the quarter, as realized

prices of iron ore fines increased 4.2% to $94.4 per ton.