Rio Tinto Plc.
(
RIO
) announced its production report for the fourth quarter and
2012. According to the company, although the markets remained
unstable over the last year, it experienced a good year in terms
of production. Rio saw an increase across all the segments in the
year 2012 including copper, bauxite, alumina, thermal coal and
titanium dioxide businesses.
Iron
Ore
Rio's production of iron ore reached 78.7% of the global iron
ore production in the year 2012, which stands at 253 million
tons. Of the total production, 191 million tons of iron ore were
produced through the Pilbara operations of the company.
The production was impacted by weather disruptions in the
first quarter of 2012 along with the shut-down of Cape Lambert
facilities in the second quarter. Also, the company expects the
expansion of Pilbara from 353 Mt/a to 360 Mt/a by the first half
of 2015.
Copper
Rio produced a total of 828.1 Mt of copper (mined and refined)
in 2012. The copper production, contained in concentrate at the
company's Kennecott Utah Copper facility, saw an increase of 26%
in the fourth quarter year over year. Production of mined copper
in the Escondida facility for 2012 represented a hike of 38% year
over year.
The production at the Palabora facility fell down year over
year due to an ore-hoisting shaft guide rope failure in July 2012
and the industrial action impact in the fourth quarter, following
which, Rio proposed to sell-off its 57.7% stake in Palabora
Mining Company Limited for $373 million.
Aluminium
Rio produced 10,041 Mt, 3,456 Mt and 39,363 Mt of alumina,
aluminium and bauxite, respectively, in the year 2012. The major
contribution for the production came from the Alcan facility
where 6,968 Mt, 2,174 Mt and 31,419 Mt, respectively, of alumina,
aluminium and bauxite were produced.
Energy
Coal
: The company produced 8,045 Mt of Hard coking coal, 3,286 Mt of
Semi-soft coking coal and 20,648 Mt of thermal coal in the year
2012. The Australian thermal coal production experienced an
increase in the fourth quarter of 37% year over year, due to many
factors, like, an increase in plant capacity at Bengalla, a surge
in ownership in the former Coal & Allied operations and
expansion at Clermont Mine.
Uranium:
The Uranium production saw a tremendous growth of 49% and 26%
year over year at Energy Resources of Australia and Rossing,
respectively.
Diamonds and Minerals
Rio produced 12,809 metric carats of diamonds with the
minerals production at 2,057 Mt and salt at 6,833 Mt in 2012. The
diamond production increased due to Rio's access to the higher
grade ore.
Moreover, the underground mine at Argyle is expected to start
initial production in the first half of 2013, with the total
production to start from 2015. Salt production reduced in the
fourth quarter of 2012 due to unfavorable weather conditions.
Although the production report of the company portrays a
considerable increase in all the business segments, the true
picture of the company's financials can only be captured in the
earnings release for the fourth quarter and 2012, due next month.
Currently, the stock bears a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while its
competitors
Tahoe Resources Inc.
(
TAHO
) and
Golden Minerals Co.
(
AUMN
) carry a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and Zacks Rank #2 (Buy),
respectively.
GOLDEN MINERALS (AUMN): Free Stock Analysis
Report
RIO TINTO-ADR (RIO): Free Stock Analysis
Report
(TAHO): ETF Research Reports
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