Rio Tinto delivered a standout operational performance in 2025, with consolidated copper output rising by 11% year-on-year to 883 kt, surpassing the top end of its updated guidance range. This growth was driven primarily by the successful ramp-up and completion of the Oyu Tolgoi underground development, which contributed to record quarterly copper volumes of 240 kt in Q4, up 5% on the same period a year earlier. Iron ore shipments from the Pilbara operations reached 326.2 Mt for the full year, down just 1% on 2024 despite extreme weather disruptions early in the year, while Q4 shipments jumped 7% to 91.3 Mt, marking a recovery to record levels. Overall Pilbara iron ore production hit 327.3 Mt, virtually unchanged from 2024, supported by strong execution and high fleet availability. Bauxite output rose 6% to 62.4 Mt, and alumina production increased 4% to 7.6 Mt, reflecting ongoing operational maturity. The company’s lithium business also achieved planned growth, delivering record quarterly volumes from its Argentine operations, and titanium dioxide slag volumes remained broadly stable at 1.0 Mt.

In a strategic push to decarbonize its operations, Rio Tinto has energized a 25 MW solar farm at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah, bringing total on-site solar capacity to 30 MW. The installation, featuring over 71,000 panels incorporating tellurium produced on site, reduces the mine’s Scope 2 emissions by approximately 6%, equivalent to eliminating roughly 20,000 tonnes of CO₂e annually or taking 4,400 cars off U.S. roads. Construction began in October 2024 in partnership with Bechtel and was completed two months ahead of schedule, demonstrating strong project delivery capabilities. By sourcing tellurium as a by-product of its copper refining operations and collaborating with 5N Plus and First Solar to manufacture thin-film modules, Rio Tinto has created a circular North American supply chain that enhances resource security and supports the company’s broader low-carbon and critical-minerals strategy.