In its third quarter operations review, the world's second biggest iron ore producer Australia-based Rio Tinto's global iron ore production increased by five percent compared to the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
In the given quarter, Rio Tinto's iron ore production was 67 million mt, five percent higher than the third quarter of 2011. In January-September of the current year, the company's global iron ore production amounted to 187 million mt, up four percent year on year.
Rio Tinto's operations in the Pilbara region of Western Australia produced a record 63 million mt of iron ore in the third quarter, increasing by five percent year on year, while the company's Pilbara iron ore production for the first nine months of the current year, increased by five percent to 177.1 million mt compared to the corresponding period of the previous year. Third quarter iron ore production of Rio Tinto subsidiary Iron Ore Company of Canada was two percent lower than the third quarter of 2011 but 23 percent higher than the previous quarter, due to continuing improvements in mine productivity.
In the third quarter, Rio Tinto's Australian hard coking coal production decreased by 16 percent compared to the same quarter of the previous year, rising 16 percent quarter on quarter.
In 2012, Rio Tinto expects to produce approximately 250 million mt from its global operations in Australia and Canada, subject to weather constraints.