Rio Tinto releases third quarter production results


16 October 2019

Rio Tinto chief executive J-S Jacques said “We have delivered improved production across the majority of our products in the third quarter, with a solid result at our Pilbara mines driving increased sales of iron ore into robust markets. Our strong value over volume approach, coupled with our focus on operational performance and disciplined allocation of capital, will continue to deliver superior returns to shareholders over the short, medium and long term.”

Q3 2019

vs Q3 2018

vs Q2 2019

9 mths 2019

vs 9mths 2018

Pilbara iron ore shipments (100% basis)

Mt

86.1

+5%

+1%

240.6

-4%

Pilbara iron ore production (100% basis)

Mt

87.3

+6%

+10%

243.1

-3%

Bauxite

Mt

13.8

+9%

+3%

40.0

+3%

Aluminium

kt

789

-3%

-2%

2,388

-1%

Mined copper

kt

157.8

-1%

+15%

437.6

-4%

Titanium dioxide slag

kt

321

+8%

+6%

920

+12%

IOC iron ore pellets and concentrate

Mt

3.0

+3%

+17%

8.0

+30%

Operational update

  • Pilbara iron ore shipments of 86.1 million tonnes (100% basis) in the third quarter were 5% higher than the third quarter of 2018. Pilbara iron ore production of 87.3 million tonnes (100% basis) was 6% higher than the third quarter of 2018 and 10% higher than the previous quarter, reflecting a good recovery from the operational and weather challenges experienced earlier in the year.
  • Third quarter bauxite production and shipments to third parties were 9% and 23% higher, respectively, than the same period of 2018. Bauxite production from non-managed Joint Ventures was lower than planned year to date.
  • Aluminium production of 0.8 million tonnes was 3% lower than the third quarter of 2018, primarily reflecting a preventive safety shutdown at one of the three pot-lines at ISAL in Iceland and earlier than planned pot relining at Kitimat in British Columbia, Canada.
  • Mined copper production of 158 thousand tonnes was 1% lower than the third quarter of 2018, but 15% higher than the second quarter, reflecting higher grades at Kennecott and improved throughput at Escondida.
  • At the Oyu Tolgoi underground project, the primary production shaft (shaft 2) remains on track for commissioning this month. Since July 2019, we have completed key infrastructure, including the central heating plant, the shaft 2 jaw crusher system and the surface discharge conveyor. Work continues on the mine re-design.
  • Titanium dioxide slag production of 321 thousand tonnes was 8% higher than the third quarter of 2018, reflecting a continued improvement in operational performance and the restart of furnaces in 2019.
  • Third quarter production at Iron Ore Company of Canada was 3% higher than the corresponding quarter of 2018 and 17% higher than the previous quarter, reflecting a return to normal operating conditions following the flooding incident which impacted June.
  • Guidance is unchanged, with the exception of bauxite production, which has been revised to around 54 million tonnes (previously 56 to 59 million tonnes), and alumina production, which has been revised to around 7.7 million tonnes (previously 8.1 to 8.4 million tonnes).
  • On 25 September 2019, Rio Tinto announced the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with China Baowu Steel Group and Tsinghua University to develop and implement new methods to reduce carbon emissions and improve environmental performance across the steel value chain.
  • Third quarter exploration and evaluation spend was $177 million, 62% higher than the same period of 2018, primarily reflecting increased activity on advanced projects.

All figures in this report are unaudited. All currency figures in this report are US dollars, and comments refer to Rio Tinto’s share of production, unless otherwise stated. To allow production numbers to be compared on a like-for-like basis, production from asset divestments completed in 2018 is excluded from Rio Tinto share of production data.

Contacts:

Investor Relations, London

Menno Sanderse
T: +44 (0) 20 7781 1517
M: +44 (0) 7825 195 178

David Ovington
Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 2051
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 010 978

Investor Relations, Australia

Natalie Worley
Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3063
Mobile: +61 (0) 409 210 462

Amar Jambaa
Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3627
Mobile: +61 (0) 472 865 948

Media Relations, London

Illtud Harri
Mobile: +44 (0) 7920 503 600

David Outhwaite
Office: +44 (0) 20 7781 1623
Mobile: +44 (0) 7787 597 493

Media Relations, Australia

Jonathan Rose
Office: +61 (0) 3 9283 3088
Mobile: +61 (0) 447 028 913

Matt Chambers
Office: +61 3 9283 3087
Mobile: +61 433 525 739

Jesse Riseborough
Office: +61 (0) 8 6211 6013
Mobile: +61 (0) 436 653 412

Media Relations, Americas

Matthew Klar
Mobile: +1 514 608 4429

Media Relations, Asia

Grant Donald
Office: +65 6679 9290
Mobile: +65 9722 6028