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United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

Report of Foreign Private Issuer

Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16

of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

For the month of

October 2014

Vale S.A.

Avenida Graça Aranha, No. 26
20030-900 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil

(Address of principal executive office)

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.)

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1))

(Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7))

(Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.)

(If “Yes” is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b). 82-   .)

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Production Highlights

Rio de Janeiro, October 23, 2014 — Vale S.A. (Vale) reached 85.7 Mt of iron ore production, ex-Samarco´s attributable production, the highest output in Vale’s history, with gains in all production Systems when compared to 2Q14. The good operational performance was supported by the ramp-ups of Plant 2 in Carajás and of Conceição Itabiritos in the Southeastern System.

In the first nine months of the year, Vale produced 236.2 Mt, which is also a new production record, against 232.2 Mt in 9M08. Over the last twelve-month period ended on September 30, 2014 our iron ore output — ex-Samarco’s attributable production — reached 317.5 Mt.

Carajás production reached its all time high at  32.2 Mt,  9.8% and 7.9% higher than in 2Q14 and 3Q13, respectively.

Excluding Samarco’s attributable production of 3.3 Mt, Vale’s pellet production reached 11.4 Mt in 3Q14, 15.0% higher than in the 2Q14 and 17.6% above the same period of last year, reflecting the ramp-ups of the Tubarão VIII and Oman pellet plants.

Tubarão VIII and Oman output reached 1.0 Mt and 2.3 Mt, respectively, in 3Q14.

Production of nickel was 72,100 t in 3Q14, 16.9% higher than in 2Q14, the best performance for a third quarter since 3Q08 despite planned maintenance at Thompson in 3Q14.

VNC is continuing its ramp-up, operating with 2 HPALs as of the beginning of September.

In 3Q14, copper output was 104,800 t, 29.3%  and 10.8% higher than  in 2Q14 and in 3Q13, respectively, reaching a historical production record.

Salobo copper production  totaled 25,900 t in 3Q14, a new record for that operation driven by the ramp up of Salobo II.

Total coal output in 3Q14 reached 2.3 Mt, 5.9% higher than in 2Q14, mostly due to the stronger performance of Carborough Downs (CD), Moatize and Isaac Plains.

In 3Q14, Moatize produced 1.296 Mt of which 0.828 Mt of met coal and 0.468 Mt of thermal coal. Met and thermal coal output increased by 16.1% and 2.4%, respectively, when compared to 2Q14. As we have anticipated  the coal mix improved during the 3Q14 with the opening of new mine faces.

Total production of phosphate rock reached 2.2 Mt, a record output for a third quarter, representing a production increase of 1.7% and 2.6% when compared to 2Q14 and 3Q13, respectively.

Production Summary

(1)Excluding Samarco’s attributable production.

(2) Including Lubambe’s attributable production.

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Iron ore

(1)  Vale’s attributable production capacity of 50%.

Production overview

Iron ore production in 3Q14 — ex-Samarco´s attributable production — was the highest in Vale’s history, amounting to 85.7 Mt, up 0.7 Mt when compared to the previous record of 85.0 Mt in 3Q11. On the last twelve-month period ended on September 30, 2014 our iron ore output — ex-Samarco´s attributable production — reached 317.5 Mt.

Despite the good production figures, shipments reduced by 3.6 Mt mainly as a result of the interdiction of the Carajás Railroad (Estrada de Ferro Carajás, EFC) at the end of September.

Including the abovementioned 3.6 Mt not shipped mainly as a result of the interdiction of the EFC, Vale’s iron ore inventories increased by 9.3 Mt along its supply chain.

Northern System

Production reached 32.2 Mt in 3Q14, a new all-time high level. The increase of 9.8% over 2Q14 reflects the ramp-ups of Plant 2 and Serra Leste which produced 4.3 Mt and 1.0 Mt, respectively.

Southeastern System

The Southeastern System, which encompasses the Itabira, Minas Centrais and Mariana mining hubs, produced 28.7 Mt in 3Q14, 8.5% higher than in 2Q14, driven by the ramp-up of Conceição Itabiritos (CI). However, output was 3.5% lower than in 3Q13 mainly due to the low production at Gongo Soco which is approaching the end of its mine life.

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Production of the Itabira mining hub was 13.3% higher than in 2Q14 due to the ramp-up of CI. Output of CI was 1.8 Mt, 0.4 Mt higher than in 2Q14.

Production of the Minas Centrais mining hub was 9.0 Mt in 3Q14, 6.7% higher than in 2Q14 as a result of good operational performance, and 5.9% lower than in 3Q13 due to the rundown of the Gongo Soco mine.

Output of the Mariana mining hub reached 10.2 Mt, the best ever quarterly performance, 5.8% higher than in 2Q14, as a result of good operational performance after the exploitation of new mine sections at Fábrica Nova following the grant of a mining license at the  end of May 2013.

Southern System

The Southern System, composed of the Paraopeba, Vargem Grande and Minas Itabirito mining hubs,  produced 23.2 Mt in 3Q14, a new all-time high level due to the good operational performance.

Production at the Paraopeba mining hub was 3.0% lower than in 2Q14 mainly due to corrective maintenance and lower equipment reliability.

Production at the Vargem Grande mining hub was 1.7% and 11.4% higher than in 2Q14 and in 3Q13, respectively, due to the good operational performance of the Vargem Grande processing plant.

Production at the Minas Itabirito mining hub was 13.1% higher than in 2Q14 — a new quarterly record —  after the recovery from the scheduled maintenance carried out in Fábrica in 2Q14.

Midwestern System

The Midwestern System, comprising the Urucum and Corumbá mining hubs, produced 1.6 Mt in 3Q14, 17.9% higher than in 2Q14, when it was decided to slow down production to reduce inventory levels. In 2014, production will be slightly lower than in 2013 without any impact on sales.

Samarco

Output of pellet feed for pellet production in 3Q14 was 3.8 Mt, 0.6 Mt higher than in 2Q14.

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Pellets

(1) Production attributable to Vale on a pro forma basis. In July 2012, we entered into a leasing contract for the Hispanobras pelletizing operation. As a consequence, their production is being consolidated 100% on a pro forma basis.

(2) Vale’s attributable production of 50%.

Production overview

Excluding Samarco’s attributable production of 3.3 Mt, Vale’s pellet production reached 11.4 Mt in 3Q14, 15.0% and 17.6% higher than in 2Q14 and in 3Q13 respectively, due to the ramp-ups of the Tubarão VIII and Oman pellet plants.

Southeastern System

Production volumes at the Tubarão operating plants — Nibrasco, Kobrasco, Hispanobras, Itabrasco and Tubarão VIII — of 6.7 Mt in 3Q14 was 15.1% higher than in 2Q14 and 31.6% higher than in 3Q13, mostly due to the abovementioned ramp-up of Tubarão VIII. The output of Tubarão VIII reached 1.0 Mt, 0.8 Mt higher than in 2Q14.

Southern System

The Fábrica pellet plant produced 0.9 Mt of pellets, 17.9% higher than in 2Q14 and in line with 3Q13, recovering from a preventive maintenance carried out in 2Q14.

The Vargem Grande pellet output was 1.5 Mt, 16.3% higher than in 2Q14 showing a good performance after the scheduled maintenance carried out in 2Q14.

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Oman operations

The Oman operation run rate exceeded the plant´s nominal capacity of 9 Mt on an annual basis and produced 2.3 Mt of direct reduction pellets in 3Q14, 15.0% higher than in 2Q14.

Samarco

Attributable production from Samarco’s four pellet plants was 3.3 Mt, 11.0% and 25.0% higher than in 2Q14 and in 3Q13, respectively, due to the ramp-up of pellet plant IV, which reached attributable production of 0.7 Mt in the current quarter.

Samarco´s pellet plant IV has a nominal capacity of 8.3 Mtpy.

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Manganese ore and ferroalloys

Production overview

In 3Q14, production of manganese ore reached 654,000 t compared to 505,000 t in 2Q14 and 621,000 t in 3Q13, due to good operational performance across all mine hubs.

Manganese ore production

Output from the Carajás Azul manganese mine increased by 30.2% when compared to 2Q14 and decreased by 5.2% against 3Q13, reaching 481,000 t in 3Q14. The higher production was due to the use of ore recovered from the tailings dam and the end of the rainy season. However, given the annual mine planning, production decreased when compared to 3Q13.

In 3Q14, output from Urucum reached the historical record of 158,000 t, an increase of 16.5% against 2Q14 and 92.8% against 3Q13, as a result of the end of the rainy season and operational improvements carried out in the beneficiation plant in 4Q13, which improved productivity and physical availability of the plant during 2014.

A mine expansion, which will allow significant production increases as of next year, is currently ongoing and in 2H14 the infrastructure in the underground mine to access high quality ore bodies will be built.

Since 4Q13, we have been processing dumped ore due to the geological conditions in the north section of Morro da Mina. We expect to return production to normal levels during 1H15 by exploring the south section of the mine.

Ferroalloys production

Production of ferroalloys was 6.5% lower than in 2Q14, due to a decision to shut down furnaces and sell excess energy to the Brazilian national grid.

Ferroalloy quarterly production was comprised of 18,900 t of ferrosilicon manganese alloys (FeSiMn), 17,000 t of high-carbon manganese alloys (FeMnHc) and 4,800 t of medium-carbon manganese alloys (FeMnMC).

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Nickel

Finished production by source

(1) External feed purchased from third parties and processed into finished nickel in our operations

(2) Total production of 20.8 Kt includes 1.5 Kt of nickel in matte that was in transit by the end of the previous quarter and was processed in other refineries in the current quarter.

Production overview

Nickel production reached 72,100 t in 3Q14, 16.9% and 16.4% higher than in 2Q14 and in 3Q13, respectively. Production in 3Q14 was the highest for a third quarter since 3Q08 despite the planned maintenance carried out in Thompson in 3Q14.

Canadian Operations

In 3Q14, Sudbury production reached 22,500 t, 146.5% and 37.4% higher than in 2Q14 and 3Q13, respectively. Having completed the planned maintenance shutdown in some of the mines and in all of the surface facilities in 2Q14, the Sudbury operation returned to normal operations in 3Q14, processing much of the inventory of feed stock pilled in 2Q14.

Thompson production in 3Q14 was 5,100 t,26.4% lower than in 2Q14 due to the abovementioned scheduled maintenance carried out in the month of August.

Voisey’s Bay nickel in concentrate production amounted to 9,100 t in 3Q14, a decrease of 24.7% and 26.4% in relation to 2Q14 and 3Q13, respectively, due to planned maintenance carried out at the Voisey’s Bay mill for a period of 10 days in July.

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Long Harbour commissioning work continues as planned. As part of its commissioning activities, Long Harbour produced its first nickel cathode rounds on July 14. Initially Long Harbour will process primarily nickel in matte from PTVI, processing entirely nickel from Voisey´s Bay concentrate at a later stage.

Indonesian Operations

In 3Q14, production of nickel in matte from our Indonesian operations at Sorowako totaled 19,300 t, an increase of 0.5% over 2Q14 and a decrease of 2.5% relative to 3Q13.

The production of finished nickel based on matte sourced from PTVI was 20,800 t, 1.6%  and 6.0% lower than in 2Q14 and in 3Q13, respectively.

New Caledonia Operations

VNC production of NiO and NHC was 4,300 t in 3Q14, an increase of 31.5% when compared to 2Q14, but a decrease of 24.4% relative to 3Q13.

Following the leak of acidic solution that occurred on May 7, operations resumed with a single HPAL line in the last week of June. In the 3Q14 VNC continued its ramp-up, operating with 2 HPALs as of September. The target for the 4Q14 is to stabilize the operation with two HPALs running consistently and improving the safe operation of the plant.

Production of finished products (NHC, NiO and Utility Nickel) from VNC totaled 3,800 t in 3Q14.

Brazilian Operation (Onça Puma)

Onça Puma reached 93% of its nominal capacity, producing 5,800 t of nickel contained in ferronickel in 3Q14, 11.3% higher than in 2Q14. A shutdown of approximately ten days is being carried out in the 4Q14 to permanently repair the refractory in the rotary kiln furnace.

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Copper

Finished production by source

Production overview

In 3Q14, copper output was 104,800 t, 29.3%  and 10.8% higher than  in 2Q14 and in 3Q13, respectively, reaching a historical production record.

Brazilian Operations

Production of copper in 3Q14 at the Sossego mine totaled 30,400 t in the form of copper in concentrates, 14.9% higher than in 2Q14, but  1.4% lower than in 3Q13. Grades in the mine returned to historic averages and the mill operated at normal rates. Milling was reduced in June due to repairs in the primary crusher and SAG mill.

Production of copper in 3Q14 at Salobo totaled 25,900 t, a new record for that operation as a result of the ongoing ramp up of Salobo II.

Canadian Operations

Sudbury production reached 30,800 t, 62.2% and 15.3% higher than in 2Q14 and in 3Q13, respectively. The Sudbury operation carried out a planned maintenance in 2Q14 and operated fully in 3Q14.

Voisey’s Bay produced 7,400 t of copper in copper concentrate, 2.5% higher than in 2Q14 and 13.7% lower than in 3Q13. In July, a 10-days planned

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 maintenance was carried out in the Voisey’s Bay mill.

African Operation (Lubambe)

Lubambe, our Zambian JV, is ramping up and delivering 6,500 t of copper in concentrates on a 100% basis (attributable production of 2,600 t). Lubambe has a nominal capacity of 45,000 t per year.

Chile Operation – discontinued operation

As previously announced, Vale completed the sale of Tres Valles in Chile on December 9th, 2013.

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Nickel and copper by-products

Finished production by source

Gold

Gold production amounted to 84,000 oz in 3Q14, 20.0% higher than in 2Q14, reaching the best performance ever for a third quarter.

Cobalt

Output of cobalt reached 884 t in 3Q14, 20.2% higher than in 2Q14, mainly reflecting the recovery from the planned maintenance shutdown in Sudbury, Port Colborne and the interruption of VNC production.

Platinum and palladium

Platinum output was 53,800 oz and palladium was 110,500 oz, 99.4% and 66.2% higher than in 2Q14, respectively.

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Coal