Rio Tinto plc reported third-quarter 2026 production of 205,000 tonnes of copper, flat year on year, and 90.8 million tonnes of global iron ore sales, up 3%. Oyu Tolgoi copper production rose 29% year to date. Lithium carbonate equivalent production was 13,000 tonnes, up 4% year on year but down 11% from Q2. Simandou achieved an approximately 10 Mtpa production run-rate on a 100% basis in Q3 and remains on track for a 60 Mtpa run-rate during H2 2028.
Rio Tinto maintained production and unit-cost guidance and remains on track for a $1.8 billion annualised productivity-benefit run-rate by the end of 2026. Year to date, it entered arrangements to release more than US$2 billion of capital; completion and cash receipt are subject to entry into binding agreements and satisfaction of conditions precedent. Yarwun production is expected to fall 40% in Q4 2026 because of tailings constraints, reducing annual production by approximately 1.2 million tonnes and extending the refinery life to 2035.
Rio Tinto plc reported updates on its capital, shareholder distributions and agreements with Aboriginal corporations. As of August 31, 2026, it had 1,256,050,913 issued ordinary shares, 1,255,153,524 voting rights and 897,389 treasury shares.
The 2026 interim dividend for Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited was USD 2.11 per share, fully franked at 30%, and was scheduled for payment on September 24, 2026. The FCA approved a base prospectus for a U.S.$10,000,000,000 Euro Medium Term Note Programme, issued by Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Limited, Rio Tinto Finance (USA) plc and Rio Tinto Finance (USA) Inc., and guaranteed by Rio Tinto plc and Rio Tinto Limited. JPMorgan Chase & Co. and affiliates reported 5.01% voting power in Rio Tinto Limited on September 11, 2026.
Rio Tinto and Ngarlawangga Aboriginal Corporation signed an interim co-management agreement providing additional long-term financial support; they will continue work toward a full agreement. Nyangumarta Warrarn Aboriginal Corporation consented to the proposed Winu mine, but development remains subject to regulatory and other required approvals and a final investment decision. Rio Tinto holds 70% and Sumitomo Metal Mining holds 30% of the joint venture; Rio Tinto said the agreement advances Winu toward first copper by 2030.
RIO TINTO PLC reported several updates. Rio Tinto plc issued and allotted 12,006 ordinary shares between 1 July and 31 July 2026 under its Global Employee Share Plan. After this, issued share capital comprised 1,256,050,704 ordinary shares, of which 897,389 are held in treasury, giving 1,255,153,315 voting rights as of 31 July 2026.
Rio Tinto highlighted its role in Tomago Aluminium, an independently managed joint venture in which it holds 51.55%. Tomago Aluminium agreed a 10‑year power purchase agreement extending electricity supply to 2038, with power from 100% renewable sources from 2033. Tomago plans A$1.1 billion of investment to 2038, including A$100 million for decarbonisation, and expects a reduction of 7.1 million tonnes of Scope 1 and 2 operating carbon emissions per year once fully supplied by renewables. The smelter can produce up to 590,000 tonnes of aluminium annually and directly employs about 1,000 people.
Rio Tinto plc reports updated capital and ownership information. As of 30 June 2026, issued share capital comprised 1,256,038,698 ordinary shares of 10p each, with 992,389 held in treasury and excluded from dividends and votes, giving 1,255,046,309 total voting rights for FCA disclosure calculations.
Between 1 and 30 June 2026, Rio Tinto plc issued and allotted 114 new ordinary shares of 10 pence each under its Global Employee Share Plan, admitted to trading on the London Stock Exchange and ranking equally with existing ordinary shares.
An accompanying Australian Form 603 shows JPMorgan Chase & Co. and affiliates became an initial substantial holder in Rio Tinto Ltd on 1 July 2026, with relevant interests in 19,088,697.23 ordinary shares and votes, representing 5.13% voting power across lending, proprietary and investment‑management positions. Rio Tinto also notes one Special Voting Share and one DLC Dividend Share related to its dual listed companies merger, and 371,821,214 publicly held Rio Tinto Limited shares that are outside Rio Tinto plc’s share capital.
Rio Tinto reported sharply improved results for the six months ended 30 June 2026. Consolidated sales revenue rose 15% to $31.0 billion, underlying EBITDA increased 28% to $14.8 billion, and net earnings attributable to shareholders grew 47% to $6.7 billion, with underlying earnings of $6.9 billion and a 17% underlying ROCE.
Operating cash flow was $9.2 billion, up 32%, supporting $5.0 billion of capital investment and free cash flow of $3.8 billion, up 75%. Net debt was $14.1 billion and the net gearing ratio 16%. The board declared an interim ordinary dividend of $3.4 billion, or 211.0 US cents per share, maintaining a 50% payout ratio.
Copper underlying EBITDA rose 84% to $5.7 billion on stronger prices and the Oyu Tolgoi ramp-up; Aluminium & Lithium EBITDA increased 38% to $3.3 billion, while Iron Ore EBITDA was broadly flat at $6.8 billion despite record Pilbara first-half production. A productivity programme has banked $870 million of benefits and reached a $1.3 billion annualised run rate. Scope 1 and 2 emissions in H1 2026 were 15.9 Mt CO₂e, 14% below the 2018 baseline, although the group reported two workplace fatalities and an all-injury frequency rate of 0.40.
Rio Tinto reported solid operational performance for Q2 2026, with group copper equivalent (CuEq) production up 3% year-on-year in the first half. Consolidated copper output was 442 kt in H1, up 1%, driven by a 31% increase at Oyu Tolgoi as underground ramp-up continued.
In iron ore, Pilbara production reached its highest first-half level since 2018, with 100% basis H1 output of 162.3 Mt and sales of 157.7 Mt, both up 6% and 5% respectively. Lithium carbonate equivalent production rose to 27.3 kt, up 53%, supported by first production at the Sal de Vida and Fénix 1B projects ahead of plan. Copper C1 net unit cost guidance was reduced to 30–50 USc/lb from 65–75 USc/lb.
Simandou continued to ramp, with 1.2 Mt mined (100% basis) and initial sales to China. Cash flow was pressured by a $443 million tax payment by Oyu Tolgoi and about $1.2 billion of working capital outflow. Exploration and evaluation spend increased to $480 million versus $334 million in 2025.
Rio Tinto filed a Form 6-K summarising June 2026 developments, including updated capital and several decarbonisation initiatives. As of 29 May 2026, Rio Tinto plc’s issued share capital comprised 1,256,038,584 ordinary shares, with 992,389 held in treasury, giving 1,255,046,195 voting rights.
The company issued 574 shares under its Global Employee Share Plan and applied to admit a further 23,000 plan shares to trading. A Rio Tinto Limited director, Ben Wyatt, acquired 300 shares at AUD 181.37 each. State Street Corporation and affiliates disclosed an increased relevant interest in Rio Tinto Limited, from 8.63% to 9.67% of voting power.
Operationally, Rio Tinto and China Baowu completed industrial-scale trials using Pilbara Blend iron ore in hydrogen-based direct reduction and electric smelting, and, with BHP and Caterpillar, launched battery-electric haul truck trials in the Pilbara aimed at reducing emissions from mining operations.
Rio Tinto plc reports updated share capital and voting rights as of 30 April 2026. The company issued and allotted 14,724 ordinary shares of 10p between 12 March and 30 April 2026 to satisfy awards under its Global Employee Share Plan.
Following these issuances, issued share capital comprised 1,256,038,010 ordinary shares of 10p each, of which 992,389 shares are held in treasury. This results in 1,255,045,621 total voting rights in Rio Tinto plc for regulatory disclosure calculations.
The filing also notes small awards of Free Shares under the UK Share Plan to senior managers and an increase in Vanguard Group’s relevant interest in Rio Tinto Limited ordinary shares from 6.022% (22,353,663 votes) to 7.027% (26,128,644 votes).
Rio Tinto has appointed Trudi Charles as its new Chief Legal Officer, Governance & Corporate Affairs, succeeding Isabelle Deschamps. Charles is currently Deputy General Counsel and Senior Vice President Legal, Supply, Trading & Shipping at BP and will join Rio Tinto from 1 August 2026.
She brings over 20 years of senior legal experience at BP across downstream and supply, trading and shipping businesses, and previously spent almost eight years with Herbert Smith Freehills Kramer in London and Hong Kong. She is admitted to the Law Society of England & Wales, the Law Society of Hong Kong and the Queensland Law Society.
Rio Tinto held contemporaneous 2026 annual general meetings in London and Perth where all resolutions were carried, including director elections, remuneration reports, share issuance authorities and buy-back powers for both plc and Limited.
Chair Dominic Barton and CEO Simon Trott highlighted safety after three site fatalities, reaffirming a commitment to eliminate fatalities and strengthen critical controls. They reported that in 2025 copper equivalent production rose 8%, EBITDA increased 9% to $25.4 billion, and underlying earnings were $10.9 billion, with $6.5 billion returned to shareholders at a 60% payout ratio.
Management said the first $650 million of annual productivity benefits has been fully implemented and they are targeting the release of $5–$10 billion of cash from the asset base. Rio Tinto outlined a strategy built around iron ore, copper, aluminium and lithium, aiming for around 3% compound annual production growth to the end of the decade, supported by projects such as Simandou, Oyu Tolgoi, Pilbara replacement mines and lithium developments, alongside a 14% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions last year.