- Production largely stable amid consistent mining performance
- Simandou ramp-up gathers pace, output reaches 2.5 mnt in Q3
Rio Tinto Plc reported Pilbara iron ore production of 83.4 million tonnes (mnt) on a 100% basis in Q3CY’26, down 1% y-o-y but unchanged q-o-q. Shipments increased 2% y-o-y to 85.7 mnt while remaining stable q-o-q, supported by consistent mine performance and healthy port inventories, according to the company’s production report dated 14 October 2026.
Production from Pilbara operations remain stable
Pilbara operations sustained stable production momentum during the quarter, supported by ongoing productivity initiatives and improvements in equipment utilisation and plant operating time. Cumulative production for January-September 2026 increased 3% y-o-y to 245.7 mnt, while shipments rose 4% to 243.3 mnt.
Shipments included material transported from Pilbara mines to Rio Tinto’s portside trading facility in China, which may not have been sold onward by the group during the same period. Portside sales in China totalled 4.7 mnt during Q3, compared with 4.9 mnt in the corresponding quarter last year. Inventory at the end of September stood at 3.7 mnt, including 2.4 mnt of Pilbara-origin material.
However, port outload capacity is expected to be affected during some quarters in 2027 and 2028 as Rio Tinto undertakes major capital projects, including the replacement of Parker Point reclaimers. These projects aim to improve system flexibility and prepare infrastructure for the proposed Rhodes Ridge development.
Simandou production ramps up
Rio Tinto’s Simandou iron ore project in Guinea continued its phased ramp-up, achieving an annualised production run-rate of around 10 mnt during Q3CY’26. Production reached 2.5 mnt on a 100% basis, up 273% q-o-q, while shipments to China totalled 2.2 mnt. Commercial sales stood at 1.3 mnt during the quarter.
Commissioning and operational readiness activities progressed as planned, with the transition towards permanent plant infrastructure underway. First ore through one of the two primary crushers and initial shipments through the SimFer port are expected in Q4CY’26, supporting the project’s ramp-up towards its targeted full production rate in H2CY’28.
At the Iron Ore Company of Canada (IOC), pellet and concentrate production declined 5% y-o-y to 3.8 mnt, despite increasing 30% q-o-q. Sales fell 6% y-o-y to 3.8 mnt but rose 20% q-o-q, reflecting higher concentrator feed and a return to normal port in-loading rates following the ore dumper replacement.
CY’26 shipment guidance unchanged
Rio Tinto retained its CY’26 Pilbara iron ore shipment guidance at 323-338 mnt, subject to weather conditions. The company also maintained its global iron ore sales guidance at 343-366 mnt.
The company reported global iron ore production of 89.7 mnt in Q3CY’26, up 2% y-o-y and 3% q-o-q. Global iron ore sales increased 3% y-o-y and 2% q-o-q to 90.8 mnt, reflecting higher Pilbara shipments and the contribution from the Simandou ramp-up.
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