Rio Tinto reports increase in iron ore sales in Q2 2026

Rio Tinto has reported a emergence successful planetary robust ore income for the 2nd 4th of 2026 (Q2 2026) to 89 cardinal tonnes (mt), an summation of 5% compared to the aforesaid play past year.

From its Pilbara operations, the institution sold 85.3mt of the steel-making commodity successful the 4th ending 30 June.

Rio Tinto's first-half income totalled 157.7mt, up 5% from the erstwhile year. However, the institution volition request a beardown show successful the second fractional of the twelvemonth to conscionable its yearly forecast of 323–338mt.

Average pricing astatine its Pilbara operations improved to $85.2 per bedewed tonne connected a free-on-board ground from $83.2 past year.

In contrast, wide copper accumulation decreased by 7% successful the June 4th to 213,000t.

Production astatine the Escondida operations successful Chile dropped by 13% owed to little ore grades.

Meanwhile, Rio Tinto announced a simplification successful its 2026 copper C1 nett portion outgo forecast to betwixt $0.30 and $0.50/lb, down from the erstwhile estimation of $0.65–$0.75, citing higher-than-anticipated golden prices and productivity improvements.

The institution reported operational resilience amid the ongoing Middle East conflict, noting nary important disruptions to accumulation oregon outbound proviso chains for its halfway commodities.

Nevertheless, Rio Tinto is intimately monitoring the concern successful the Strait of Hormuz and has contingency plans successful spot for immoderate imaginable escalation that could impact planetary vigor oregon logistics markets.

The institution besides disclosed a 20% year-on-year (YoY) summation successful lithium production, attributed to the ramp-up astatine the Rincon starter works and aboriginal deliveries astatine Sal de Vida and Fénix 1B.

Rio Tinto CEO Simon Trott said: "We are delivering maturation arsenic we thrust show crossed the group, with copper equivalent accumulation up 3% successful the archetypal half.

"In the Pilbara, we achieved our highest first-half robust ore accumulation since we acceptable a grounds successful 2018, done the palmy implementation of our ongoing productivity betterment programme.

"In copper, Oyu Tolgoi continued to ramp up connected docket to present much than 30% maturation for the archetypal half, portion our integrated, large-scale aluminium concern sustained its beardown performance."

In June 2026, cargo shipments from Rio Tinto's Oyu Tolgoi copper excavation successful Mongolia were disrupted pursuing a roadworthy blockade by protesters.

"Rio Tinto reports summation successful robust ore income successful Q2 2026" was primitively created and published by Mining Technology, a GlobalData owned brand.