Rio Tinto’s Q2 Iron Ore Shipments Rise 13% to 79.9M Tonnes, Copper Output 229K Tonnes; BHP Reports Strong Q4 Iron Ore and Copper Output

Rio Tinto reported a 13% sequential increase in its second-quarter iron ore shipments, reaching 79.9 million tonnes on a 100% basis. The company’s Pilbara iron ore production totaled 83.7 million tonnes, marking the highest quarterly output since 2018. Copper production for the quarter was 229,000 tonnes, representing a 15% year-on-year rise in the April to June period. The recovery in iron ore shipments followed disruptions caused by cyclones earlier in the year. Meanwhile, BHP Group, the world’s largest miner, posted a 2% year-over-year increase in iron ore output in its fourth quarter, with total Western Australia iron ore output at 77.48 million tonnes and shipments of 76.72 million tonnes. BHP’s attributable iron ore output for the quarter was 70.34 million tonnes, and copper output reached 516,200 tonnes. BHP’s full-year 2025 guidance for Western Australia iron ore output stands between 284 million and 296 million tonnes. Both companies benefited from robust demand and elevated iron ore prices, with the steel-making commodity trading around $100 per ton.