Rio Tinto Third-Quarter Iron-Ore Shipments Rise
October 15 2019 - 6:14PM
Dow Jones News
By Rhiannon Hoyle
SYDNEY--Rio Tinto PLC (RIO.LN) said Wednesday it shipped more
iron ore last quarter versus the same period a year ago as its
Australian mining hub recovered from earlier operational and
weather-related setbacks.
The miner, one of the world's top exporters of the steel
ingredient, reported iron-ore shipments from its Pilbara operations
of 86.1 million metric tons for the three months through September.
That was up 1% on the quarter immediately prior and 5% on the same
period a year earlier.
The rise in exports reflected "a good recovery from the
operational and weather challenges experienced earlier in the
year," said Rio Tinto.
The miner reiterated a projection for annual Pilbara iron-ore
shipments of 320 million-330 million tons. The company in June
downgraded that from an earlier forecast of 333 million-343 million
tons, as setbacks in the Greater Brockman hub especially prompted a
review of mine plans. Earlier in 2019, Rio Tinto grappled with
disruptions from a cyclone and a fire at a key port.
Still, the miner has benefited from an iron-ore price that has
steadied around US$90 a ton, up roughly one-quarter on what it
fetched at the start of 2019. Iron ore contributed 70% of Rio's
underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and
amortization in the first half of 2019.
Rio Tinto meantime reported quarterly mined copper production of
157,800 tons, down 1% on-year but up 15% on-quarter. That reflected
higher grades at its Kennecott mine and improved throughput at
Escondida, it said.
The miner downgraded full-year guidance for bauxite output to
roughly 54 million tons, from 56 million-59 million tons
previously. It also lowered a forecast for alumina production to
about 7.7 million tons from 8.1 million-8.4 million tons. It cited
weather-related disruptions and maintenance among the reasons for
the cuts.
Write to Rhiannon Hoyle at rhiannon.hoyle@wsj.com
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
October 15, 2019 17:59 ET (21:59 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2019 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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