Rio Tinto reports strong bauxite recovery in Q2, maintains 2026 production guidance

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Rio Tinto reported a strong recovery in bauxite production during the second quarter of 2026, while maintaining its full-year production guidance across its aluminium business.

The company produced 15.2 million tonnes of bauxite during the second quarter, up 14 per cent from the previous quarter but 3 per cent lower than the same period last year. For the first half of 2026, bauxite production totalled 28.5 million tonnes, a 7 per cent decline year-on-year. Rio Tinto maintained its full-year bauxite production guidance at 58-61 million tonnes.

Chief Executive Simon Trott said the company's integrated aluminium business continued to perform strongly, supported by a recovery in bauxite production despite ongoing geopolitical uncertainty.

Alumina production reached 2.0 million tonnes in the second quarter, an increase of 10 per cent compared with the second quarter of 2025, although it was 2 per cent lower than the previous quarter. First-half alumina production rose 8 per cent year-on-year to 4.0 million tonnes. Rio Tinto retained its full-year alumina production guidance of 7.6-8.0 million tonnes.

Primary aluminium production remained steady at 0.84 million tonnes during the quarter, unchanged from a year earlier and 1 per cent higher than the first quarter. First-half production stood at 1.68 million tonnes, in line with the same period of 2025. The company's 2026 production guidance remains 3.25-3.45 million tonnes.

Across its broader operations, Rio Tinto reported a 3 per cent year-on-year increase in copper equivalent production during the first half of 2026. Copper production at the Oyu Tolgoi mine increased 31 per cent as the underground operation continued to ramp up, while the company's copper C1 net unit cost guidance was lowered to US 30-50 cents per pound from US 65-75 cents per pound.

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In iron ore, global sales reached 88.8 million tonnes in the second quarter, up 5 per cent year-on-year, while Pilbara sales increased 7 per cent to 85.3 million tonnes. Trott said, “In the Pilbara, we achieved our highest first-half iron ore production since we set a record in 2018, through the successful implementation of our ongoing productivity improvement program.” 

Construction of the SimFer mine and port infrastructure at the Simandou project is now more than three-quarters complete, with full rail commissioning completed during the first quarter. Rio Tinto also reported continued progress in its lithium business. Lithium carbonate equivalent production reached 14.6 thousand tonnes in the second quarter, up 20 per cent year-on-year. This is mainly driven by the ramp-up of the Rincon starter plant and the start of production at the Sal de Vida and Fénix 1B projects ahead of schedule. 

Trott added, “We are driving a step-change in operational performance to deliver industry-leading returns and growth for our shareholders." The company maintained its production guidance across its major commodities for 2026.