SAO PAULO/RIO DE JANEIRO, April 24 (Reuters) - Brazilian

miner Vale on Wednesday said lower prices for iron

ore, nickel and copper in the first quarter dragged down

earnings compared to the year before, as it posted net profit

slightly below analyst estimates.

Vale, the world's no.2 producer of iron ore, posted a $1.7

billion net profit for the quarter ended in March, 9% lower than

the year-earlier period, while analysts polled by LSEG were

expecting $1.9 billion.

Vale last week reported first-quarter output and sales

figures, registering lower nickel production even as iron ore

and copper production rose.

Higher sales volumes of iron ore and copper helped

offset the dip in prices in the metals, Vale said on Wednesday.

The average realized price of copper was 19% lower than

in the same period last year, while nickel was down 33%. Vale

said iron ore fines realized prices were also lower from last

year.

Vale's adjusted earnings before interest, taxes,

depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) fell 7% in the quarter

from a year earlier to $3.44 billion, below analysts' estimate

of $3.66 billion.