- Business
- Rio Tinto Group (RTPPF) is a British-Australian multinational mining company that finds, mines, and processes mineral resources worldwide. Founded in 1873 through the acquisition of copper mines in Spain's Huelva province, the company maintains dual headquarters in London, United Kingdom, and Melbourne, Australia, and operates across 35 countries on six continents, with major activities in Australia, Canada, the United States, Chile, Mongolia, and Brazil. Its product portfolio encompasses iron ore from Pilbara operations in Western Australia serving the global steel industry; aluminium including bauxite mining, alumina refining, and primary metal smelting with facilities in Australia, Brazil, Canada, and other regions; copper concentrates and refined cathodes from assets like Kennecott in the US, Escondida in Chile, and Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia, plus by-products such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and sulphuric acid; diamonds; and energy and minerals comprising borates from California, titanium dioxide feedstock from Canada and South Africa, salt, gypsum, uranium interests, and emerging lithium supplies.
The company organizes operations into four main product groups—iron ore, aluminium (bauxite, alumina, primary aluminium), copper and diamonds, and energy and minerals—supported by exploration, technology, and innovation divisions, targeting steelmakers, transportation, construction, electronics, renewable energy, agriculture, and battery manufacturers. Rio Tinto produces high-quality iron ore fines and lumps; lightweight, corrosion-resistant aluminium for automotive, aerospace, packaging, and electrical applications; conductive copper for wiring, plumbing, and electrification; and specialized industrial minerals like borates for glass and ceramics, plus battery materials.
Recent developments include a May 2025 partnership with Chile's Codelco forming a joint venture for the Salar de Maricunga lithium project, where Rio Tinto acquires a 49.99% stake and commits up to $900 million, advancing lithium brine development with closing expected in Q1 2026. In October 2025, Rio Tinto partnered with Canada Growth Fund for a C$25 million transaction to expand scandium oxide production at its Sorel-Tracy facility in Québec to 9 tonnes per annum, bolstering North American critical minerals supply using domestic assets. The company also completed a $6.7 billion acquisition of Arcadium Lithium in 2025, establishing a dominant position in battery materials and global lithium supply chains; launched lithium exploration with Charger Metals in Western Australia's Yilgarn Craton in September 2025 funded by Rio Tinto; and in November 2025 partnered with Calix to test low-emissions steelmaking in Western Australia while pausing its BioIron initiative. These moves reflect strategic expansions into lithium, scandium, and low-carbon technologies amid energy transition demands.