Rio Tinto beats 2025 copper guidance as Oyu Tolgoi ramps up
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The news: Rio Tinto has reported an 8% rise in copper production for the fourth quarter, compared to the same period last year, driven by the ramp-up of its Oyu Tolgoi mine in Mongolia.
The numbers: The result took 2025 copper output to 883,000 kilotonnes (kt), an 11% improvement on 2024, and above guidance of 860-875kt.
The miner said its Pilbara operations achieved record Q4 iron ore production, climbing 4% year on year, as its Simandou mine in Guinea started operations and delivered its first shipment.
Fourth-quarter iron ore shipments from Pilbara were up 7% year on year. However, the company's 2025 total of 326.2 metric tonnes (mt) marked a 1% fall compared to 2024 and came in at the lower end of its guidance of 323-338mt.
Elsewhere, Rio Tinto's bauxite, alumina and aluminium production all met 2025 guidance.
The context: Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott said the company's Pilbara operations made a strong recovery from extreme weather interruptions earlier in the year.
The miner, which re-entered talks with commodities giant Glencore this month over a possible merger, reiterated its 2026 guidance issued in December.
The source: ASX
