London, April 27, 2026 — Rio Tinto, the world’s second-largest iron ore miner, posted a 12% YoY rise in Q1 2026 iron ore output to 87.5 Mt, driven by strong demand from Asian steel mills, especially in India and Southeast Asia. The company maintained its full-year production guidance at 330–340 Mt, despite supply chain disruptions and higher shipping costs due to Middle East tensions. Iron ore prices remained firm at ~$115/t, supporting miner profitability.