Rio Tinto eyes $A7b capital release, iron ore sales up

Key points

• Rio Tinto says it expects to release about $US5 billion, or $A7.2 billion, in capital by the end of 2026, supported by strong mine performance. Third-quarter iron ore sales from its Pilbara operations came in above market forecasts, reaching 85.7 million tonnes, up two per cent on a year earlier.
• The company has already released more than $US2 billion this year under an optimisation program aimed at higher-return growth projects.
• Copper output was broadly flat, with a rise at Oyu Tolgoi offsetting weaker output elsewhere.