Australia-based Rio Tinto, the world's second biggest iron ore producer, has announced that in the fourth quarter of last year its iron ore production from its Pilbara operations in Western Australia increased by four percent year on year to 85.5 million mt. In the given quarter, the company's iron ore shipments from its Pilbara operations amounted to 87.7 million mt, up one percent year on year.
On the other hand, in 2016 the miner’s iron ore production from the Pilbara region amounted to 329.5 million mt, rising by six percent, while its iron ore shipments from the Pilbara region increased by three percent to 327.6 million mt, both year on year.
Rio Tinto's Australian hard coking coal production in the fourth quarter increased by 15 percent year on year to 2.18 million mt, while its hard coking coal production in 2016 went up by four percent year on year to 8.14 million mt.
In the Pilbara region, Rio Tinto’s iron ore sales in the given quarter exceeded production by 2.2 million mt, primarily drawing down on inventories built up at ports in the third quarter due to maintenance.