Rio Tinto’s 2016 bauxite production reaches 47.7 million MT

The global metals and minerals giant Rio Tinto released its 2016 bauxite production report on Tuesday, January 17. The company produced 47.7 million tonnes of bauxite in 2016, higher than expected target set in last October with an increase by 9 per cent from 2015.


After improvements of the system, Rio Tinto’s Australian bauxite mines of Weipa in Queensland and Gove in the Northern Territory exceeded its annual production record by 6 per cent and 21 per cent respectively.

China’s rising demand for the aluminium ore and Rio Tinto’s strong production allowed the company to export 29.3 million tonnes of bauxite to third parties, up 10 per cent from 2015. The company’s fourth quarter exports were 12 per cent ahead of the fourth quarter in 2015.

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Last October, Rio Tinto set its bauxite production target for 2016 to 47 million tonnes from 45 million tonnes after achieving strong production at the Weipa and Gove mines.

Rio Tinto is expecting its bauxite production to range between 48 million-50 million tonnes in 2017.