Cyclones affect Rio Tinto ore production

EXTREME weather that affected Western Australia at the start of the year means iron ore shipments from Rio Tinto’s Pilbara sites will be at the lower end of guidance.

In its half-year results, Rio Tinto posted production of 150m tonnes of iron ore during the first half of 2025, hampered in part by cyclones that hit Australia west coast in February 2025.

Despite this, production in the second quarter of the year was the best since 2018, Rio Tinto said.

Shipments were down 5% on last year, again due to disruption caused by cyclones in the first quarter of the year.

The miner expects its annual iron ore production to be at the lower end of its published guidance, which is set between 323m-338m tonnes.

Bauxite production, on the other hand, is expected to be at the higher end of the 57m-59m tonne guidance published, following production of 30.6m tonnes in the first half of the year and record production at its Amrun and Gove sites.

Whether Chinese demand for ore can maintain the record-breaking levels seen in recent years is up for debate, but Rio Tinto highlighted the 1.1% increase in Chinese crude steel production in the first half of the year, as well as an inventory supply decrease at 47 key ports by June 30.

The miner confirmed its Western Range site opened on time and on budget in Pilbara.

But perhaps more interesting to shipowners will be the news that the first Simandou shipments have been brought forward to November 2025.