Rio Tinto has reported operational excellence across copper and iron production across operations – while also experiencing record quarterly production from its critical minerals portfolio.
Copper equivalent production rose eight per cent year-on-year in 2025, with shipments also up five per cent. This was driven, the company said, by the strong ramp-up of the Oyu Tolgoi deposit in Mongolia.
Copper production saw similar production growth with a more than 10 per cent rise, exceeding Rio Tinto’s own internal guidance range.
Iron ore also saw record production in the fourth quarter of 2025 – up four per cent on the year before – with shipments also increasing seven per cent through “exceptional development” at the Simandou mine in the Republic of Guinea.
“Our operations delivered exceptional production performance, both on a quarter-on-quarter and full year basis, as we leverage our strong foundation of operating excellence and project delivery across our portfolio,” Rio Tinto chief executive Simon Trott said in a statement.
“Implementation of our stronger, sharper, simpler way of working continues, and is delivering results and creating value.”
The company also saw a record year for bauxite and lithium production – with the latter reaching record quarterly production thanks to operating assets in Argentina and the former seeing 15.4 million tonnes produced in the final quarter of 2025.
“A step change in bauxite production through the year once again highlights the ongoing maturation of our operational excellence,” Trott said.
“In lithium, we achieved production growth from our operations and in-flight projects as planned in 2025, as we build out our high-quality portfolio with discipline.”
The figures represent a six per cent rise versus 2024 numbers.
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