Rio Tinto Logs Flat Q3 Copper Production, Affirms FY26 Guidance

11:52 PM EDT, 10/13/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Rio Tinto Group's (RIO.L) copper production on a consolidated basis was flat year over year in the third quarter, while the production of global iron ore and alumina expanded, according to a Wednesday release. Copper output was stable at 205,000 tonnes, while global and Pilbara iron ore production reached 89.7 million tonnes and 83.4 million tonnes, respectively, up 2% and down 1% from a year earlier. Global and Pilbara iron ore sales rose 3% and 2%, respectively, to 90.8 million tonnes and 85.7 million tonnes. Bauxite output fell 4% to 15.7 million tonnes, alumina production increased 10% to 2.1 million tonnes, and aluminum production dropped 2% to 800,000 tonnes. The 2026 outlook for all commodities remained unchanged. Meanwhile, production of lithium carbonate equivalent gained 4% to 13,000 tonnes in the third quarter, with 2026 guidance at the lower end of the unchanged range of 61,000 tonnes to 64,000 tonnes.