ONE of Western Australia’s major iron ore producers, Rio Tinto, says demand remains strong across its range of iron ore products with all markets showing strength, particularly China.
Rio Tinto made the comments in its 2004 December quarter operations report.
In the report it announced that subsidiary Hamersley Iron achieved record production and shipped record volumes of iron ore in the quarter, however production from its other Australian iron miner, Robe River, was down due to the timing of maintenance in advance of production ramp-up in 2005.
Hamersley produced 20.1 million tonnes for the quarter and a total 74.2mt in 2004, which was up 7 per cent on the previous year.
Rio says Hamersley’s increased capacity at Yandicoogina and the ramp-up of Eastern Range underpinned the strong December quarter for Hamersley
Production from Robe River during the quarter was 6.3mt, down 7 per cent from the previous quarter.
Despite this total production for the year was up 7 per cent on 2003, to 25.7mt.
Rio added that Robe met sales expectations due to strong sales from Pannawonica.