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[January 2001]
Rio Tinto Quarterly Production Report for the quarter ending 31 December 2000
Iron ore production for the full year was 40 per cent higher than in 1999. Half of the increase arose from record production at Hamersley for the year with the other half arising from the acquisition of North Limited which also had record production at its Robe River operations during 2000. Both Hamersley and Robe River had record shipments during 2000.
Aluminium production for the full year was 24 per cent higher than in 1999 helped by the purchase of the Comalco minorities during the year and continued improvements at the smelters.
Mined copper production for the full year was 4 per cent higher than in 1999. However, it was 18 per cent higher in the fourth quarter of 2000 compared with the third quarter due to higher copper grades at Bingham Canyon, US and Grasberg, Indonesia.
Mined gold production for the full year was down 9 per cent on 1999. However, it was 26 per cent higher in the fourth quarter of 2000 compared with the third quarter due mainly to significantly higher gold grades at Grasberg.
Coal production for the full year was down 5 per cent on 1999 due mainly to a decision to reduce US production in the first half of the year following lower spot prices experienced in late 1999 and early 2000.
Borates production for the full year was up 5 per cent on 1999, but down 7 per cent in the fourth quarter compared with the previous quarter when production had been high due to timing of maintenance work.
Titanium dioxide feedstock production for the full year was down 4 per cent on 1999 but 8 per cent higher in the fourth quarter compared with the third quarter following the return to full production at QIT, Canada.
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ENDS