Brazilian miner Vale (VALE3.SA), opens new tab reported  a 5.5% increase in its third-quarter iron ore production compared to a year earlier, reaching the highest level in almost six years.

The company, one of the world’s top iron ore suppliers, reported output of 91 million metric tons in the three months ended Sept. 30, it said in a securities filing.

The volume of iron ore produced reached the highest level in a three-month period since the final quarter of 2018, powered by improved performance at a trio of Brazilian mining projects .