By Digifin Pty Ltd · About this coverage
Key Points
- All 2026 production and sales guidance maintained, with lithium at the lower end of 61 - 64kt
- Oyu Tolgoi copper production up 27% year on year in Q3 and 29% year to date
- Global iron ore sales 90.8Mt (100% basis), up 3%; Pilbara sales 85.7Mt, up 2%
- Simandou reached an annualised run-rate of ~10 Mtpa (100% basis) as it ramps up
- Arrangements entered to release more than US$2 billion of capital, subject to conditions
About Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO)
Rio Tinto Limited is a global mining company listed on the ASX and, through Rio Tinto plc, on the London Stock Exchange. It mines and processes iron ore, copper, aluminium, bauxite, alumina and lithium, with major operations in Australia, Mongolia, the Americas and Guinea.
Rio Tinto (ASX:RIO) reported third-quarter production with all 2026 production and sales guidance maintained, with lithium production tracking to the lower end of its guidance range after adverse weather affected third-quarter operations.
Consolidated copper production was 205kt, unchanged on Q3 2025, and 646kt for nine months, up 1%, against guidance of 800 - 870kt. Oyu Tolgoi production rose 27% year on year in the quarter and 29% year to date. Global iron ore sales were 90.8Mt (100% basis), up 3%, and Pilbara sales were 85.7Mt, up 2%, while Pilbara production was 83.4Mt, down 1%. Simandou reached an annualised production run-rate of ~10 Mtpa (100% basis) and remains on track for a 60 Mtpa run-rate during H2 2028. Bauxite production was 15.7Mt, down 4%, alumina 2.1Mt, up 10%, and aluminium 0.8Mt, down 2%. Lithium carbonate equivalent production was 13.0kt for the quarter and 40.3kt year to date, against guidance of 61 - 64kt. Pilbara unit cash cost guidance of US$23.5 - 25.0 per wet metric tonne is maintained. The company has entered arrangements to release more than US$2 billion of capital year to date.
Completion and cash receipt for the capital release depend on binding agreements and conditions precedent, and the total includes a non-binding lithium sales arrangement. Production guidance remains subject to weather, and unit cost guidance to diesel prices and foreign exchange.
Source: Rio Tinto Limited (ASX:RIO), 14 October 2026. Summary content supplied by Digifin Pty Ltd.
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