Rio Tinto ships 4bt of iron ore to China

Rio Tinto (ASX: RIO) has celebrated the shipment of 4bt of iron ore from WA’s Pilbara to China, a milestone reached 51 years after the first shipment.

Over more than 50 years, China has become Rio’s largest customer with around 250mt of iron ore shipped there every year.

The 4bt of iron ore shipped is enough to produce the steel needed for around 45,000 Sydney Harbour Bridges or more than 23,000 Beijing National Stadiums.

Rio iron ore chief executive Simon Trott commented on the milestone.

“China has been a critical partner for Rio Tinto and for Australia’s mining industry for more than five decades,” he said.

“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 1.4b 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.”

Rio’s newest mine Western Range is the latest joint venture partnership with China Baowu with production expected to begin in 2025 and annual capacity of 25mt of iron ore.