Rio Tinto eyes $A7b capital release, iron ore sales up

Rio ‌Tinto says it's on track to release about $US5 billion ($A7.2 billion) in capital by the end of 2026, ‌after strong mine performance helped lift third quarter iron ore sales from its Pilbara ...

News World News Save Share News World News News Home Home / News / World News Rio Tinto eyes $A7b capital release, iron ore sales up By Rajasik Mukherjee Updated October 14 2026 - 12:28pm , first published 12:22pm By Rajasik Mukherjee Updated October 14 2026 - 12:28pm , first published 12:22pm Save Share Mining giant Rio Tinto has reported its Pilbara iron ore sales increased two per cent.

Photo: Alan Porritt/AAP PHOTOS Rio ‌Tinto says it's on track to release about $US5 billion ($A7.2 billion) in capital by the end of 2026, ‌after strong mine performance helped lift third quarter iron ore sales from its Pilbara operations above market expectations.

The world's largest iron ore producer sold 85.7 million metric tonnes of the steel-making commodity from Pilbara in the quarter ended on September 30, up two per cent from a year earlier.

The result was also ahead of a Visible Alpha ‌consensus estimate of ‌84.41 million ⁠tonnes.

The miner said it had already released more than $US2 billion in ​capital this year under a $US5 billion-$US10 billion optimisation program unveiled at its 2025 Capital Markets Day, aimed at supporting higher-return growth projects.

Copper output was broadly flat at 205,000 ⁠tonnes as a 27 per cent rise at Mongolia's Oyu Tolgoi ‌mine ​offset lower production at Chile's Escondida and weaker refined copper output from Kennecott in the United States.

Rio ​maintained its 2026 ‌Pilbara iron ore sales forecast of 323 million to 338 million tonnes.

The company has shipped ​243.4 million tonnes so far this year, implying it needs to ship 79.6 million tonnes in the fourth quarter to reach the lower end of the target range.

The fourth ​quarter ​is typically Rio's strongest period.

In lithium, ​Rio said full-year production was now expected at the ‌lower end of its 61,000-64,000 tonne forecast range, citing a slower-than-anticipated ramp-up at its Sal de Vida project in Argentina.

Rio's Simandou project in Guinea sold 1.7 million wet metric tonnes of iron ore in the first nine months.

To meet the lower end of its full-year sales forecast of ​five million to 10 million tonnes, the project will need to sell about 3.3 million tonnes in ​the December quarter.

Save Share More from World News World prays for Pope after lung cancer diagnosis 32m ago New explosions in Riyadh as Saudis, Houthis swap fire 2hrs ago IMF chief urges US and other nations to rein in debt 2hrs ago Pope undergoes surgery for common lung cancer Ed Sheeran weak over Macklemore removal: Brian Eno Trump fires Greece ambassador after misconduct claims Newsletters & Alerts View all As it happens Sharp.

Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more.

Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe.

Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday.

Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarGuide, ACM's exclusive motoring partner.

Stay in the know on news that matters to you with twice weekly newsletters from The Senior.

Get the very best journalism from The Examiner by signing up to our special reports.

Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over.

News World News Save Share News World News News Home Home / News / World News Rio Tinto eyes $A7b capital release, iron ore sales up By Rajasik Mukherjee Updated October 14 2026 - 12:28pm , first published 12:22pm By Rajasik Mukherjee Updated October 14 2026 - 12:28pm , first published 12:22pm Save Share Mining giant Rio Tinto has reported its Pilbara iron ore sales increased two per cent.