Rio Tinto maintains 2026 guidance despite cyclone disruptions
Diversified miner Rio Tinto has maintained its 2026 Pilbara iron-ore shipment guidance of 323-million to 338-million tonnes, despite disruptions caused by recent cyclones in Western Australia.
The company reported on Monday that the combined impact of Tropical Cyclone Narelle, which crossed the Pilbara as a Category 4 system, and Tropical Cyclone Mitchell in February resulted in an estimated eight-million-tonne reduction in shipments.
Rio Tinto expects to recover about half of the lost volumes over the remainder of the year.
The company said that port operations across the Pilbara were temporarily suspended, with closures at the group’s four iron-ore terminals beginning on March 24. Ship loading at East Intercourse Island, Parker Point and Cape Lambert B resumed on March 28.
Repairs at the Cape Lambert A facility are ongoing, with shipments from that terminal expected to restart in the coming days.
