Rio Tinto reaches four billion tonnes of iron ore shipped to China
(Posted on 22/07/24)
Rio Tinto has celebrates the shipment of four billion tonnes of iron ore from the Pilbara in Western Australia to China.
The shipment was loaded at Dampier Port on 19th July, bound for China Baowu Steel Group, the world’s top steel producer. This milestone comes 51 years after the first shipment of almost 22,000 tonnes of Pilbara iron ore was sent from Dampier Port to China's Shanghai No.1 Steel Mill, which has since become part of China Baowu.
Over more than half a century, China has grown to become Rio Tinto’s largest customer with about 250 million tonnes of iron ore shipped each year.
Four billion tonnes is enough iron ore to produce the steel needed for about 45,000 Sydney Harbour Bridges, or more than 23,000 Beijing National Stadiums (Bird’s Nest).
Rio Tinto partnered with China for the country’s first ever investment in a foreign mining project, and its largest ever foreign investment at the time, by forming the Channar joint venture in 1987. That JV in Western Australia laid the foundation for many projects to follow, and for decades of mutual growth and prosperity between Rio Tinto, China and Australia.
Western Range, Rio Tinto’s newest mine, is the latest joint venture partnership with China Baowu. Production from the mine is expected to commence in 2025, with an annual capacity of 25 million tonnes of iron ore.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Simon Trott said, “China has been a critical partner for Rio Tinto and for Australia’s mining industry for more than five decades.
“China’s strong demand for high-quality minerals such as iron ore has generated substantial opportunities for investment and trade between the two countries.
“Every time I visit China and see the skyscrapers, the high-speed rail, and all the infrastructure that has helped improve the lives of 1.4 billion people, it makes me proud to think that most of what I see contains steel that was made with Rio Tinto iron ore.
“We look forward to continuing our relationship with China well into the future as we continue to deepen our strategic partnership.”
Latest News
FEFAC calls for targeted transatlantic feed trade agreement
(Posted on 18/03/25)FEFAC, representing the EU compound feed and premix manufacturers, noted with deep concern the announced... Read more
Cargill inaugurates new corn milling plant in Gwalior, India
(Posted on 18/03/25)Catering to the growing demand from India’s confectionery, infant formula, and dairy sectors,... Read more
Metal Park launches storage hub in KEZAD
(Posted on 12/03/25)Khalifa Economic Zones Abu Dhabi – KEZAD Group, the largest operator of integrated and purpose... Read more
Rio Tinto to invest $1.8bn to develop Western Australia Brockman mine
(Posted on 06/03/25)Rio Tinto will invest $1.8 billion1 to develop the Brockman Syncline 1 mine project (BS1), extending... Read more
Canadian steel industry denounces tariffs on Canada
(Posted on 04/03/25)Catherine Cobden, President and CEO of the Canadian Steel Producers Association (CSPA), has released... Read more
Study: Enough scrap to meet rising U.S. demand for recycled steel
(Posted on 04/03/25)Enough domestic ferrous scrap is available for electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmakers to supply nearly... Read more
Cargill and Hafnia launch Seascale Energy
(Posted on 01/03/25)Cargill’s Ocean Transportation business and leading tanker shipping company, Hafnia, have joined... Read more
Anglo American and Codelco to unlock significant value from copper mines
(Posted on 28/02/25)Anglo American plc has announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding between its 50.1% owned... Read more
Metso invests in China to strengthen screen offering for mining and aggregates
(Posted on 15/02/25)Metso is investing in the expansion of its screening solutions in China. Metso is a frontrunner in sustainable... Read more
Cemex announces CEO transition
(Posted on 13/02/25)Cemex has announced that its CEO, Fernando A. González, has decided to retire after a successful... Read more
