FACTBOX-Global iron ore mine expansion plans

July 31 (Reuters) - The world's top iron ore miners supply
about half of world demand each year. Annually set iron ore
prices have risen as much as 500 percent since 2002 as
suppliers struggle to keep up with consumption.

Here is an overview of key expansion projects:

* VALE (VALE5.SA) (formerly Companhia Vale do Rio Doce)

Investment: $10.1 billion

Project: To develop Serra Sul iron ore project in
Brazil's Para state

By when: Q4 2011

Amount of new annual output: 90 million tonnes

* RIO TINTO LTD/PLC (RIO.AX)(RIO.L)

Project 1: To expand the Corumba mine in Brazil

Investment: $2.15 billion

Starts by: Q4 2008

Amount of new annual output: 10.4 million tonnes. Also
investigating further expansion of another 10.4 million tonnes
to 23.2 million tonnes.

Project 2: To expand the annual production at its Pilbara
operations in Western Australia

By when: year-end

Targeted annual output: 220 million tonnes, eventually
rising to 600 million tonnes.

Longer term: To dig a huge iron ore mine in Simandou in
Guinea, which it calls the world's largest known undeveloped
iron ore province, containing 2.25 billion tonnes of ore.

Estimated first-year production: 70 million tonnes

* BHP BILLITON LTD/PLC (BHP.AX)(BLT.L)

Background: Rapid Growth Project 5 was approved in
February 2008 as the company's next step in its phased growth
path

Targeted annual capacity: More than 200 million tonnes

Starts: 2011.

* KUMBA (KIOJ.J)

Background: Has the potential to expand output to 70
million tonnes by 2015, making the African mining house the
world's fourth-largest producer of lump iron ore by 2014.

Target: To boost output by 40 percent over two years.

* FORTESCUE METALS GROUP LTD (FMG.AX)

Forecast: full-year 2008/09 production of 45-55 million
tonnes, gradually rising to 100 million tonnes a year

Plan: To develop more of its mines near BHP and Rio Tinto
operations.

* EVRAZ GROUP HK1q.L, CHINA METALLURGICAL GROUP CORP

Project: A 1.56 billion-tonne iron ore resource

Projected annual output: 15 million tonnes of magnetite
concentrate

* GERALDTON IRON ORE ALLIANCE

Background: Comprises eight companies in exploration
stages

Forecast: projects' combined annual production of 45
million tonnes

Starts: Middle of next decade

* BRAZILIAN MINING BARON EIKE BATISTA

Owns: Serra Azul and Minerminas mines in Minas Gerais
state

Amount of new annual output: 9 million tonnes

By when: 2011.
(Reporting by James Regan; Editing by Ben Tan)