By Ângela Belfort – 10/15/2026

Four states in Brazil’s Northeast are expected to receive estimated investments of US$ 19.2 billion – approximately R$ 96 billion – in mining projects, according to a survey conducted by the Brazilian Mining Institute (IBRAM) for the period between 2026 and 2030. In the region, Bahia will lead investments with US$ 11.6 billion (approximately R$ 58 billion), while Ceará ranks second, with estimated investments of US$ 5.4 billion, representing approximately R$ 27 billion.

What drew attention in the survey was Ceará’s fourth-place ranking nationally among the states expected to receive the most investments from the sector. Projects in Ceará represent 7.1% of the total projected for Brazil during the period. Bahia, Piauí, and Maranhão also appear among the ten states in the country with the highest investment forecasts, ranking third, seventh, and tenth, respectively, on the list.O que chamou a atenção no levantamento foi o Ceará ocupar o quarto lugar no ranking nacional que lista os estados que mais vão receber investimentos do setor. Os projetos do Ceará representam 7,1% do total projetado para o Brasil no período. Bahia, Piauí e Maranhão também aparecem entre os dez estados do País com maiores previsões de investimentos com respectivamente, terceiro, sétimo e décimo lugares na lista.

According to IBRAM, projects in Ceará are mainly focused on fertilizers, but also include gold, logistics, and socio-environmental investments. Lithium mining is also being explored in some cities in the state’s hinterland. “Ceará has characteristics that could increase its relevance in Brazil’s mining scenario in the coming years, especially in segments related to critical and strategic minerals and agricultural inputs. The state has the potential to play an increasingly relevant role in diversifying national mineral production,” says IBRAM’s Mining Affairs Manager, Aline Nunes.

According to the specialist, one of the most strategic aspects is the potential of minerals associated with fertilizers. “Brazil still depends heavily on imports of essential inputs for agribusiness, and projects aimed at producing agrominerals can help reduce this external vulnerability, strengthening food security and increasing the competitiveness of Brazilian agribusiness,” she comments. In IBRAM’s view, fertilizers should be treated as strategic minerals because of their importance to national development and also to reduce dependence on imports.

Aline also argues that “strengthening Ceará and other producing states also represents an important step forward for Brazil. The more diversified Brazilian mineral production is, the greater the country’s ability to develop regional production chains, attract investments, create qualified jobs, and increase economic resilience.”

In the Northeast, Bahia Will Lead Mining Investments

Among the Northeastern states, Bahia will account for 15.2% of all projected investments. Among the mineral exploration projects in Bahia are iron ore, in Brazil Iron’s Ferro Verde Project, in the municipalities of Piatã, Abaíra, and Jussiape; and rare earths, in the Monte Alto Project, operated by Borborema Mineração/Brazilian Rare Earths, in Ubaíra and Jiquiriçá. Nickel is also prominent, in the underground expansion project of the Santa Rita Mine, operated by Atlantic Nickel/Appian Capital Brazil, in Itagibá; as well as phosphate, in the mining project in Irecê, intended for the production of fertilizer inputs. Copper is also already being extracted in the state.

In the list of future IBRAM investments in mining projects, Piauí appears with projects totaling approximately US$ 1.7 billion (R$ 8.5 billion) and a 2.3% share of the total projected for the country. Maranhão ranks tenth, with US$ 546 million (R$ 2.7 billion), corresponding to 0.7%. Outside the top ten, Rio Grande do Norte has projected projects budgeted at US$ 486 million (R$ 2.4 billion), with a 0.6% share. Alagoas is also included in the survey, with projects totaling approximately US$ 2 million (around R$ 10 million).

For Brazil as a whole, IBRAM estimates investments of US$ 76.9 billion in mining projects between 2026 and 2030. The forecast is 12.5% higher than the amount projected for the 2025–2029 period. Of this total, US$ 21.3 billion is expected to be invested in critical minerals by 2030.

Source: www.movimentoeconomico.com.br