In the fourth quarter of 2025, Rio Tinto delivered Pilbara iron ore production of 89.7 Mt, a 4% year-over-year increase, and shipments of 91.3 Mt, up 7% on the prior year. This performance represents the highest quarterly output on record for the Pilbara region. At the same time, the company’s Simandou project in Guinea achieved its first commercial shipment during the quarter, marking a major development milestone and adding a new high-grade iron ore source to Rio Tinto’s portfolio.

Copper equivalent (CuEq) production increased by 8% in 2025 compared with 2024, driven by the successful ramp-up of the Oyu Tolgoi underground project and robust performances in lithium and bauxite operations. Consolidated copper output rose by 11%, surpassing the top end of management guidance, while total CuEq shipments were up 5%. Record bauxite production of 62.4 Mt for the full year, a 6% increase, and sustained lithium growth in Argentina supported the uplift in overall metals volume.

Rio Tinto has set guidance for fiscal 2026 Pilbara iron ore sales in the range of 323–338 Mt, reflecting confidence in operational execution and recovery from earlier weather disruptions. Bauxite production is forecast at 58–61 Mt and alumina at 7.6–8.0 Mt. Management highlighted ongoing projects at Oyu Tolgoi, Simandou and the company’s lithium portfolio as key drivers for further volume growth and value creation across multiple commodity segments.

In December 2025, Rio Tinto energized a new 25 MW solar facility at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah, bringing total on-site solar capacity to 30 MW. The installation, comprising more than 71,000 panels and completed two months ahead of schedule in partnership with Bechtel, is projected to cut Scope 2 emissions by approximately 6%. Notably, the panels incorporate tellurium produced at Kennecott, creating a fully circular North American supply chain for this critical solar technology mineral.