In the first half of the current year, the global iron ore production of Australia-based Rio Tinto, the world's second biggest iron ore producer, increased by six percent to 127.2 million mt compared to the first half of 2012, setting a new first half record, as announced in the company's second quarter operations review. In the first six months this year, the company's iron ore shipments amounted to 118.6 million mt, up four percent year on year.
In the given period, Rio Tinto's Australian hard coking coal production decreased by four percent to 3.55 million mt, compared to the same half of the previous year.
According to Rio Tinto's statement, the company achieved record first half iron ore production, shipments and rail volumes despite a conveyor belt breakage resulting in one of five ship loaders being sidelined for almost three weeks and also despite unseasonal wet weather which led to flooding at the Pilbara iron ore operations in Western Australia.
Rio Tinto aims to deliver first tonnage from its Pilbara 290 iron ore expansion project by the end of the third quarter of this year, with the expansion of Pilbara capacity to 290 million mt per year. Delivery of first tonnages will be followed by a steady commissioning and ramp-up period. According to the company statement, the completion of the rail capacity expansion infrastructure project was the most recent milestone reached in the second quarter.
Rio Tinto chief executive Sam Walsh said, "Our iron ore operations continue their impressive performance, with period on period productivity improvements. One of our key priorities this year is to deliver our growth projects. Despite some challenging weather conditions, our Pilbara 290 iron ore expansion remains on track to deliver first tonnes by the end of this quarter."