In its first quarter operations review, the global iron ore production of Australia-based Rio Tinto, the world's second biggest iron ore producer, increased by four percent to 61.2 million mt compared to the first quarter of 2012, setting a new first quarter record. In the given quarter, the company's iron ore shipments amounted to 57.3 million mt, up seven percent year on year.
According to Rio Tinto's statement, its Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia swiftly recovered from the cyclone season, and are now running at full capacity of 237 million mt per year. In the first quarter, the company sold 55 million mt of iron ore from its Pilbara operations, increasing by seven percent year on year. Rio Tinto subsidiary Iron Ore Company of Canada's iron ore production in the given quarter stood at 2 million mt, 20 percent higher than the first quarter of 2012.
In the first quarter this year, Rio Tinto's Australian hard coking coal production decreased by 10 percent to 1.53 million mt, compared to the same quarter of the previous year.
Rio Tinto indicated that its 2013 production guidance is unchanged at approximately 265 million mt from global operations in Australia and Canada, subject to weather constraints.