Rio Tinto reports 90.8 million tonnes: Rio Tinto stock trails EUR 78.28

Published on 10/21/2026 at 10:05 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS

Rio Tinto kept 2026 iron ore guidance at 343-366 million tonnes. Rio Tinto stock costs EUR 78.24 on October 21, 2026 versus EUR 78.28 on Xetra.

Operations, guidance and valuation

On October 14, 2026, Rio Tinto sold 90.8 million tonnes of iron ore.
Oyu Tolgoi copper output increased 27 percent year over year in the third quarter of 2026.
Rio Tinto stock trades at EUR 78.24 at 10:01 a.m. CEST at Lang & Schwarz on October 21, 2026, 0.05 percent below the Xetra close of October 20, 2026.
JPMorgan cut its target to GBp 7,950 on October 13, 2026.

Architektur-Rendering eines modernen Bürohochhauses mit Glasfassade und Platz davor — Rio Tinto plc (ISIN GB0007188757) unterhält Konzernbüros, symbolisiert durch diesen modernen Glasfassaden-Bürokomplex, Illustration mit AI erstellt.

Rio Tinto (ISIN GB0007188757) reported 90.8 million tonnes of global iron ore sales for the third quarter of 2026, up 3 percent from a year earlier. The update dated October 14, 2026 kept full-year iron ore sales guidance at 343-366 million tonnes, according to Rio Tinto.

Iron ore sales hold guidance

The quarterly release showed Pilbara iron ore sales of 85.7 million tonnes, 2 percent higher than in the third quarter of 2025. Rio Tinto said the increase reflected mine performance and port inventories, while its annual production targets for other commodities remained unchanged.

The operating mix was uneven. Copper production totaled 205,000 tonnes in the third quarter, unchanged year over year, while Oyu Tolgoi output rose 27 percent. Nine-month copper production reached 646,000 tonnes, 1 percent above the comparable 2025 period.

What does the target cut mean?

JPMorgan lowered its Rio Tinto target from GBp 8,100 to GBp 7,950 on October 13, 2026, while retaining a Neutral rating, according to FinanzNachrichten. The cited assessment focused on limited near-term Chinese investment stimulus and did not identify immediate positive drivers.

Three dated operating signals

On October 1, 2026, Rio Tinto announced that the Bell Bay Aluminium operation would continue through 2031. On October 1, 2026, it also transferred the Argyle Pink Diamonds brand to Boodles after the final inventory transaction. On October 14, 2026, the company reported 90.8 million tonnes of third-quarter global iron ore sales and maintained its 343-366 million-tonne annual guidance.

Stock stays near EUR 78

For investors, the key contrast is between steady shipment guidance and a more cautious external valuation. Rio Tinto also reported a 29 percent year-to-date increase in Oyu Tolgoi copper production and a 33 percent year-to-date increase in lithium production in its October 14 update.

Rio Tinto was trading at EUR 78.24 at Lang & Schwarz on October 21, 2026, at 10:01 a.m. CEST, 0.05 percent below the Xetra close of October 20, 2026 at EUR 78.28. The primary listing is on the London Stock Exchange, where the shares closed at GBp 6,545.00 on October 20, 2026.

The further course of trading is shown by the continuously updated real-time quote of Rio Tinto stock.