Rio Tinto declares force majeure

Rio Tinto Group, the world's second-largest iron ore exporter, disclosed that deliveries from its mines in Western Australia's Pilbara region may be missed or delayed due to heavy rains. “We have declared force majeure and are assessing the situation” a Rio Tinto spokesman said. Spokesman indicated that mining had slowed at the Hamersley and Robe River mines in far Western Australia's Pilbara region, although rail and port activities were unaffected. Rival miner in the Pilbara region, BHP Billiton said its mining and shipping operations were unaffected by the heavy rains.