Rio Tinto Sees 6% Q3 Rise in Iron Ore Shipments, Eyes Strong Year-End

Rio Tinto reported a 6% sequential increase in third-quarter iron ore shipments, reaching 84.3 million tonnes from its Pilbara operations. 

This rise marks Rio’s second-highest Q3 haul in years, though it fell just short of the 85.5 Mt consensus. 

Earlier this year, four cyclones disrupted production and logistics in Western Australia, forcing Rio to signal it would target the lower end of its 2025 guidance (323–338 Mt) for full-year shipments. 

To hit its annual target, Rio says it needs a strong Q4 push, especially as iron ore prices have climbed—helped by China’s infrastructure stimulus and record import levels. 

Beyond iron ore, Rio also flagged gains in other commodities. Copper output from Mongolia’s Oyu Tolgoi mine hit record levels, and bauxite production was strong enough to raise full-year guidance for that business. 

Shares in Rio rose as much as 3.6% following the update, while peers like BHP and Fortescue also saw gains. 

The quarter was the first under CEO Simon Trott, who has reorganized the company into three divisions: iron ore, aluminium & lithium, and copper. 

Rio remains cautious about demand in China, where ongoing economic strains persist, but retains confidence that it can meet market expectations with disciplined execution.