RHI Magnesita showcases Brumado’s strategic potential for a secure and sustainable raw materials future
Vienna/Salvador, 26 May 2025 – In a time of persistent geopolitical instability, high tariffs, and fragile supply chains, Brazil is stepping forward as a resilient and high-quality alternative source for critical raw materials like Magnesite. This message was at the heart of MagForum 2025, held for the first time in Latin America from 19 to 21 May in Salvador, Brazil. Organised by IMFORMED, MagForum is one of the world’s most recognized international events focused on magnesite mining and processing
Magnesite is a critical raw material for producing refractory products which are crucial for all high temperature manufacturing processes – steel, cement, aluminium, non-ferrous metals, glass, energy, etc. As the global leader in refractories, RHI Magnesita is backward integrated with its wholly owned magnesite mining facilities, with one of it situated at Brumado in Brazil.
On 22 May, as part of the official programme of MagForum 2025, participants from across the global refractory and industrial minerals sectors took part in a technical visit to RHI Magnesita’s flagship raw materials operation in Brumado, Bahia. With one of the world’s largest and purest magnesite reserves, Brumado is now positioned to become a fully integrated global hub for magnesia-based raw materials.
“Markets today are more volatile than ever – shaped by shifting geopolitics, export restrictions, and an overreliance on just a few suppliers,” said Gustavo Franco, Chief Customer Officer of RHI Magnesita. “Brumado is open for business: it is reliable, high-quality and scalable. This is where secure, long-term supply begins. We believe Brumado is ready to serve as the global raw materials hub.”
A future-proof supply chain, built at the source
Brazil holds the fourth-largest global reserve of magnesite, and nearly all of it is concentrated in Brumado. With direct rail connection to the Port of Aratu and decades of supply ahead, the site offers a strategic alternative to single source supply concentration.
RHI Magnesita has recently inaugurated its largest rotary kiln at the site, delivering an annual capacity of 150,000 tonnes. At 200 metres in length, including its cooler, and operating at sintering temperatures above 1900°C, the facility is designed for product versatility, quality, and global competitiveness.
Resilience, sustainability and innovation
Brumado is more than a mine – it is a modern, performance-driven production ecosystem. RHI Magnesita has recently invested over €100 million into the site, raising technical standards through automation, digital control, and integrated logistics.
“Brumado brings together every component of a resilient supply chain – from high-grade ore to highly modernised infrastructure,” said Rajah Jayendran, Chief Technology Officer of RHI Magnesita. “We’ve installed our most advanced rotary kiln, built a state-of-the-art water recirculation system, and connected the site to export logistics. Emissions are being reduced across the board, and we see strong potential for future application of CO₂ capture and conversion technologies at the site.”
The Brumado plant already achieves 90% water reuse, preserving local water resources and protecting 22 springs in the Serra das Éguas region. It also supports local communities through environmental restoration, professional training and social impact initiatives.
As part of its decarbonisation strategy, RHI Magnesita has invested heavily in a partnership with MCi, an Australian clean-tech start-up developing pioneering carbon mineralisation technology. The process converts CO₂ into industrial-use powders. The company plans to expand this innovation to raw material operations such as Brumado in the near future.
About RHI Magnesita
RHI Magnesita is the leading global supplier of high-grade refractory products, systems and solutions which are critical for high-temperature processes exceeding 1,200°C in a wide range of industries, including steel, cement, non-ferrous metals and glass. With a vertically integrated value chain, from raw materials to refractory products and full performance-based solutions, RHI Magnesita serves customers around the world, with over 20,000 employees in 65 main production sites (including raw material sites), 12 recycling facilities and more than 70 sales offices. RHI Magnesita intends to leverage its leadership in terms of revenue, scale, product portfolio and diversified geographic presence to target strategically those countries and regions benefiting from more dynamic economic growth prospects.
The Group is listed within the Equity Shares (Commercial Companies) category (“ESCC”) of the Official List of the London Stock Exchange (symbol: RHIM) and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index, with a secondary listing on the Vienna Stock Exchange (Wiener Börse). For more information, please visit: www.rhimagnesita.com
For further inquiries, please contact:
Abhijit Borah
Head of Global Communications & Public Affairs
abhijit.borah@rhimagnesita.com
+43 699 1870 6728
Joseph Waldstein
Global Public Relations
joseph.waldstein@rhimagnesita.com
+43 699 1870 6106