Rio Tinto’s Q1 performance in aluminum operations
Rio Tinto’s bauxite production totaled 12.1 million tons in the first quarter of 2023, sliding by 8% compared to the previous quarter and by 11% from the year-ago level. The decrease was due to Weipa operations being affected by higher-than-average rainfall during the period. The bauxite production guidance was maintained at 54 to 57 million tons.
In the first quarter, the company’s aluminum was 785,000 tons, keeping flat quarter on quarter and up by 7% year on year. The quarter-on-quarter growth was due to the continued production increase at the Kitimat smelter.
The Boyne and Kitimat smelters are currently recovering as scheduled, and the full operation is expected later in the year. Operation at all other smelters keeps stable during the quarter.
