TOPIC

/ company

Rio Tinto Group

Rio Tinto Group is a British-Australian mining group with its headquarters in London, and a management office in Melbourne. Founded in 1873, the group has grown to become one of the world’s leading producers of a range of commodities, including aluminium, iron ore, copper, uranium, coal, and diamonds. The company has operations on six continents but is mainly concentrated in Australia and Canada, and owns gross assets valued at US$81 billion.

Chairman / President

Dominic Barton

CEO / Managing Director

Jakob Stausholm

CFO / Finance Director

Peter Cunningham

Industry

Metals and Mining

Website

riotinto.com

Headquarters address

6 St James's Square, London SW1Y 4AD, United Kingdom

Stock Code

ASX:RIO
LSE:RIO
NYSE:RIO

Year founded

1873

A worker checks coiled aluminium plates at a factory in China’s eastern Shandong province. China’s aluminium giant Chalco and Rio Tinto have agreed to acquire a controlling stake in Brazilian flagship aluminium firm CBA. Photo: Imaginechina

China-Latin America relations

China’s Chalco, Rio Tinto buy Brazil’s CBA for US$886 million to secure minerals

Acquisition of Brazilian flagship aluminium firm reinforces China’s growing footprint in the country’s strategic mineral assets sector.

3 Feb 2026 - 10:51AMvideocam

China-Africa relations

First China ore shipment rewards Guinea leader’s push for Simandou alliance

11 Dec 2025 - 6:16AMvideocam

Mainland China

Mainland Chinese miner Zijin’s founder who built US$100 billion firm retires

1 Dec 2025 - 4:37PM

China-EU relations

EU’s investment bank to work with Australia on critical raw materials

The move aims to cut reliance on China, which most G7 and EU countries depend on for materials from rare earth magnets to battery metals.

18 Nov 2025 - 3:24AMvideocam

Lithium raw materials mined in Western Australia, which are used in the production of batteries for electric vehicles. Photo: Reuters

China-Africa relations

Why first Simandou iron ore shipment to China marks a global milestone

US$20 billion mining project in Guinea forecast to threaten market dominance for Australia’s Pilbara region.

15 Nov 2025 - 6:00PM

China-Africa relations

New railway lines put Guinea and Algeria on track to send iron ore to China

Chinese firms complete key infrastructure needed to transport iron ore from mines to processing facilities and ports.

21 Jul 2025 - 2:00PMvideocam

Indonesia

Can Indonesia’s China-backed aluminium ambitions match its nickel success?

With big Chinese firms investing in new smelters and refineries, Indonesia’s aluminium production is predicted to rise five-fold by 2030.

10 Jul 2025 - 9:50AMvideocam

An aerial view of PT Gag Nikel mining operations in Gag Island, Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Photo: Greenpeace/Reuters

China-Australia relations

Exclusive | Australia’s Albanese to address Darwin Port sale on China visit

The prime minister, after stating the Chinese-owned port should be sold to a domestic entity, will explain his country’s stance during trip.

7 Jul 2025 - 6:32PMvideocam

Pacific nations

Rebel region vows to become Pacific’s newest nation by 2027

Bougainville, home to about 300,000 people, voted to secede from Papua New Guinea five years ago after a bloody decade-long war.

11 Dec 2024 - 2:33PM

China-Australia relations

Exclusive | Premier Li’s Perth trip reflects commitment to warmer China-Australia ties

The date is set for Li Qiang to bring China’s biggest business delegation down under since 2017, and Australian businesses are expected to ‘press their commercial interests’.

31 May 2024 - 3:50PMvideocam

Australia

Australia’s Rio Tinto sees China driving iron ore demand; copper orders rise

Rio Tinto forecasts China – home to the world’s largest steel industry – will hit a peak in consumption, and expects global iron ore demand will rise almost a quarter by 2050.

16 Jan 2024 - 8:56PM

Machines mov iron ore to rail cars at Rio Tinto’s operations in Western Australia. The company expects global iron ore demand will rise almost a quarter by 2050, thanks in large part to China. Photo: AFP

High Jewellery

Could this be a good time to invest in fancy pink, blue or yellow diamonds?

Fancy coloured diamonds in distinctive shapes are capturing increased interest, with yellow diamonds featuring prominently at Haute Couture Week, and Rio Tinto announcing a new Beyond Rare tender

16 Jan 2024 - 10:29AM

China trade

Can Rio Tinto’s Africa mine cut China’s iron ore reliance on Australia, Brazil?

China’s political fallout with Australia in 2020 prompted an expedited effort by China to seek other sources of iron ore, like the Simandou mine in Guinea.

7 Dec 2023 - 8:30PMvideocam

Business of climate change

Rio Tinto, China Baowu to jointly explore green steel projects

The MoU between Rio Tinto and China Baowu will explore several initiatives including setting up green steel facilities in China and Western Australia.

12 Jun 2023 - 4:15PMvideocam

An excavator moves iron ore at Port Hedland, Australia. Photo: Bloomberg

Mongolia

Exclusive | ‘We’re open and ready’: Mongolia prime minister courts global investors

Sandwiched between superpowers, Mongolia is in a precarious geopolitical position, and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene says Russia and China ‘totally understand and highly appreciate’ this.

24 Jan 2024 - 2:11PM

Mongolian Prime Minister Luvsannamsrain Oyun-Erdene attends the opening ceremony for an underground copper mine alongside Rio Tinto CEO Jacob Stausholm in Khanbogd, South Gobi, on March 13. Photo: Reuters

Climate change

Macroscope | Is green hydrogen China’s answer to steel mill carbon emissions?

Major steelmakers are adopting green hydrogen, setting up expensive experiments and pilot facilities. But to scale up its production and use, government support will be crucial.

26 Feb 2023 - 10:00PMvideocam

Australia

‘Needle in the haystack’: tiny radioactive device located in Australia

Specialist search equipment picked up radiation emitting from the widget, which went missing last month, apparently while being moved from a Rio Tinto iron ore mine.

1 Feb 2023 - 10:13PM

Australia

Emergency services scour Australian outback for lost radioactive capsule

The capsule emits the equivalent of 10 X-rays an hour and can cause skin damage, burns and radiation sickness. Long-term exposure could also cause cancer – but experts say the lost item cannot be weaponised.

30 Jan 2023 - 9:34AM

Crews search for a tiny but dangerous radioactive capsule from a Rio Tinto mine after it disappeared while being transported across the Australian outback. Photo: Western Australia Department Of Fire And Emergency Services / Handout

China-Australia relations

‘Not enough’: Australia’s US exports can’t cover trade loss with China

With Australia’s reduced trade with China, exports to the US have increased, but the US$1billion a month of trade isn’t enough to offset the loss.

9 Apr 2022 - 9:18AMvideocam

256

Africa

Guinea signs US$15 billion deal for Simandou iron ore site

The three-way deal has a 35-year duration for co-development by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and the Singapore-led Winning Consortium.

28 Mar 2022 - 7:05AM

Africa

Could Guinea’s junta sink China’s plans to wean itself off Australian iron ore?

Work is on hold at the China-backed Simandou mine, home to one of the biggest undeveloped reserves in the world.

19 Mar 2022 - 6:00PM

The Simandou iron ore reserves are believed to be among the biggest in the world. Photo: Rio Tinto

Commodities

China unveils plan for mineral ‘self-sufficiency’ as supply risks multiply

In the 2021-25 raw material development plan, China says iron self-sufficiency will be ‘significantly’ increased and its rare earth quota mechanism streamlined to adjust production.

31 Dec 2021 - 5:17AMvideocam

Beijing wants to safeguard supply of key strategic resources, including iron ore. Photo: Reuters

Commodities

China’s war on runaway commodity prices fuels retreat in iron ore

Iron ore prices have plummeted since May, reflecting recent efforts by Beijing to rein in demand for steel and turn back high raw material prices that have hit Chinese producers.

22 Sep 2021 - 6:11AMvideocam

China economy

Surging iron ore prices rattle China as tensions with Australia flare

Amid heightened trade tensions with Australia, Beijing may look to cut steel demand to stabilise prices and reduce potential economic risks, experts say.

7 May 2021 - 10:22AMvideocam

108

Commodities

China steel demand leaves top iron ore miners struggling to keep up

Steel prices in China finished the quarter at decade highs as construction activity and demand in the first quarter exceeded both 2020 and 2019.

21 Apr 2021 - 11:25AMvideocam

Strong demand and margins – at their highest since 2018 – have lifted demand for higher quality iron ore products and China’s renewed focus on reducing steelmaking emissions is likely to restrain exports in 2021, supporting margins globally, Rio Tinto said. Photo: Reuters

Australian Economy

Australia’s iron ore exports set to hit record US$104 billion

Australia’s iron ore exports are expected to earn more than A$100 billion (US$76 billion) per year for the next half decade as miners like BHP Group, Rio Tinto and Fortescue dig out more iron ore from Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

29 Mar 2021 - 12:51PMvideocam

Iron ore shipments are expected to rise from 900 million tonnes in 2020–21 to 1.1 billion tonnes by 2025–26, as the country expects to retain its dominant market share even as Brazilian supply recovers. Photo: Bloomberg

China economy

Miner BHP makes another anti-pollution deal with Chinese steel producer

Newly signed memorandum of understanding between Chinese steel mill and Australian miner will see US$15 million spent over three years on research to reduce harmful carbon emissions.

9 Mar 2021 - 7:15PMvideocam

China economy

China’s state-owned giants to be ‘national team’ underpinning growth

China Baowu Steel Group became the world’s largest steelmaker last week, highlighting Beijing’s goal of creating a ‘national team’ of globally competitive state-owned enterprises.

29 Dec 2020 - 10:58PMvideocam

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Rio Tinto Group

China’s Chalco, Rio Tinto buy Brazil’s CBA for US$886 million to secure minerals

Acquisition of Brazilian flagship aluminium firm reinforces China’s growing footprint in the country’s strategic mineral assets sector.

First China ore shipment rewards Guinea leader’s push for Simandou alliance

Mainland Chinese miner Zijin’s founder who built US$100 billion firm retires

EU’s investment bank to work with Australia on critical raw materials

The move aims to cut reliance on China, which most G7 and EU countries depend on for materials from rare earth magnets to battery metals.

Why first Simandou iron ore shipment to China marks a global milestone

US$20 billion mining project in Guinea forecast to threaten market dominance for Australia’s Pilbara region.

New railway lines put Guinea and Algeria on track to send iron ore to China

Chinese firms complete key infrastructure needed to transport iron ore from mines to processing facilities and ports.

Can Indonesia’s China-backed aluminium ambitions match its nickel success?

With big Chinese firms investing in new smelters and refineries, Indonesia’s aluminium production is predicted to rise five-fold by 2030.

.css-sioo19{color:#c79a00;}Exclusive | Australia’s Albanese to address Darwin Port sale on China visit

The prime minister, after stating the Chinese-owned port should be sold to a domestic entity, will explain his country’s stance during trip.

Rebel region vows to become Pacific’s newest nation by 2027

Bougainville, home to about 300,000 people, voted to secede from Papua New Guinea five years ago after a bloody decade-long war.

Exclusive | Premier Li’s Perth trip reflects commitment to warmer China-Australia ties

The date is set for Li Qiang to bring China’s biggest business delegation down under since 2017, and Australian businesses are expected to ‘press their commercial interests’.

Australia’s Rio Tinto sees China driving iron ore demand; copper orders rise

Rio Tinto forecasts China – home to the world’s largest steel industry – will hit a peak in consumption, and expects global iron ore demand will rise almost a quarter by 2050.

Could this be a good time to invest in fancy pink, blue or yellow diamonds?

Fancy coloured diamonds in distinctive shapes are capturing increased interest, with yellow diamonds featuring prominently at Haute Couture Week, and Rio Tinto announcing a new Beyond Rare tender

Can Rio Tinto’s Africa mine cut China’s iron ore reliance on Australia, Brazil?

China’s political fallout with Australia in 2020 prompted an expedited effort by China to seek other sources of iron ore, like the Simandou mine in Guinea.

Rio Tinto, China Baowu to jointly explore green steel projects

The MoU between Rio Tinto and China Baowu will explore several initiatives including setting up green steel facilities in China and Western Australia.

Exclusive | ‘We’re open and ready’: Mongolia prime minister courts global investors

Sandwiched between superpowers, Mongolia is in a precarious geopolitical position, and Prime Minister Luvsannamsrai Oyun-Erdene says Russia and China ‘totally understand and highly appreciate’ this.

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}Macroscope | Is green hydrogen China’s answer to steel mill carbon emissions?

Major steelmakers are adopting green hydrogen, setting up expensive experiments and pilot facilities. But to scale up its production and use, government support will be crucial.

‘Needle in the haystack’: tiny radioactive device located in Australia

Specialist search equipment picked up radiation emitting from the widget, which went missing last month, apparently while being moved from a Rio Tinto iron ore mine.

Emergency services scour Australian outback for lost radioactive capsule

The capsule emits the equivalent of 10 X-rays an hour and can cause skin damage, burns and radiation sickness. Long-term exposure could also cause cancer – but experts say the lost item cannot be weaponised.

‘Not enough’: Australia’s US exports can’t cover trade loss with China

With Australia’s reduced trade with China, exports to the US have increased, but the US$1billion a month of trade isn’t enough to offset the loss.

Guinea signs US$15 billion deal for Simandou iron ore site

The three-way deal has a 35-year duration for co-development by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and the Singapore-led Winning Consortium.

Could Guinea’s junta sink China’s plans to wean itself off Australian iron ore?

Work is on hold at the China-backed Simandou mine, home to one of the biggest undeveloped reserves in the world.

China unveils plan for mineral ‘self-sufficiency’ as supply risks multiply

In the 2021-25 raw material development plan, China says iron self-sufficiency will be ‘significantly’ increased and its rare earth quota mechanism streamlined to adjust production.

China’s war on runaway commodity prices fuels retreat in iron ore

Iron ore prices have plummeted since May, reflecting recent efforts by Beijing to rein in demand for steel and turn back high raw material prices that have hit Chinese producers.

Surging iron ore prices rattle China as tensions with Australia flare

Amid heightened trade tensions with Australia, Beijing may look to cut steel demand to stabilise prices and reduce potential economic risks, experts say.

China steel demand leaves top iron ore miners struggling to keep up

Steel prices in China finished the quarter at decade highs as construction activity and demand in the first quarter exceeded both 2020 and 2019.

Australia’s iron ore exports set to hit record US$104 billion

Australia’s iron ore exports are expected to earn more than A$100 billion (US$76 billion) per year for the next half decade as miners like BHP Group, Rio Tinto and Fortescue dig out more iron ore from Western Australia’s Pilbara region.

Miner BHP makes another anti-pollution deal with Chinese steel producer

Newly signed memorandum of understanding between Chinese steel mill and Australian miner will see US$15 million spent over three years on research to reduce harmful carbon emissions.

China’s state-owned giants to be ‘national team’ underpinning growth

China Baowu Steel Group became the world’s largest steelmaker last week, highlighting Beijing’s goal of creating a ‘national team’ of globally competitive state-owned enterprises.

Exclusive | Australia’s Albanese to address Darwin Port sale on China visit

Macroscope | Is green hydrogen China’s answer to steel mill carbon emissions?