Rio Tinto reported fourth-quarter Pilbara iron ore production of 89.7 Mt, a 4% increase year-on-year, and shipments of 91.3 Mt, up 7%. These record quarterly volumes helped drive full-year Pilbara output to 327.3 Mt, aligning with the lower end of the company’s 2026 forecast range of 323–338 Mt. Crucially, Rio achieved its first commercial shipment from the Simandou project, marking a key growth milestone after accelerated development. Copper equivalent (CuEq) production rose 8% in 2025, supported by the ramp-up at Oyu Tolgoi and strong lithium operations; copper output grew 11%, exceeding guidance. Flat bauxite volumes of 62.4 Mt and Alumina production of 7.6 Mt were in line with expectations. For fiscal 2026, management forecasts bauxite of 58–61 Mt, alumina of 7.6–8.0 Mt, Pilbara sales of 323–338 Mt, and copper of 860–875 kt, underpinning further volume growth and margin stability.

Rio Tinto energized a new 25 MW solar facility at its Kennecott copper mine in Utah, increasing total on-site solar capacity to 30 MW. The array, which comprises over 71,000 panels containing tellurium produced at Kennecott, is expected to supply the equivalent of 1,026 average U.S. households per year and reduce Scope 2 emissions by approximately 6%. Constructed in partnership with Bechtel, the project was completed two months ahead of schedule and underscores Rio’s commitment to a circular North American supply chain: Kennecott’s tellurium byproduct is refined in Canada by 5N Plus and integrated into panels by First Solar. This initiative strengthens Rio’s environmental credentials and supports cost-efficient, low-carbon power for its operations.