Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest metals and mining corporation, has reportedly demonstrated a positive start to 2025, achieving record-breaking quarterly bauxite output and setting a new monthly production high in March. Rightfully enough, Rio Tinto’s Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said the company continued to deliver attractive growth in both operational and financial areas, generating substantial returns for shareholders and building a stronger and more diversified business.
Production in focus
In Q1 2025, Rio Tinto’s bauxite production reached 15 million tonnes, marking a significant Y-o-Y increase of 11.94 per cent from 13.4 million tonnes and a quarter-on-quarter decline of 3 per cent from 15.4 million tonnes. Alumina output was 2 million tonnes, up by 3 per cent Y-o-Y but down by 4 per cent over a quarter. Regarding shipments, bauxite third-party shipments totalled 9.81 million tonnes in Q1, showing a solid 15 per cent Y-o-Y increase, though declined by 8 per cent Q-o-Q.
As a reason for growth, Rio Tinto attributed the record-high quarterly bauxite production to Amrun’s operation above nameplate capacity, driven by improved utilisation rates due to the implementation of the Safe Production System. For alumina, the company shared the credit with its 100 per cent capacity acquisition of Queensland Alumina Limited following the Australian Government’s sanctions against Russian entities.
Primary aluminium production was 829,000 tonnes in Q1 2025, which remained steady compared to a year ago but slightly dropped by 0.96 per cent from 837,000 tonnes in Q4 2024. The steady output over the year could be attributed to continuous improvements offsetting external challenges that impacted production at the New Zealand Aluminium Smelter (NZAS) and Kitimat.
Meanwhile, recycled aluminium output decreased by 11 per cent Y-o-Y but stood 14 per cent higher Q-o-Q, amounting to 66,000 tonnes, due to gradually improving market conditions.
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