Rio Tinto’s Strategic Growth Plans for Copper and Aluminum in 2025

Major Copper Production Boost at Oyu Tolgoi
Rio Tinto is projecting a significant rise in copper production for 2025, with estimates ranging between 780,000 and 850,000 tonnes. This marks a notable increase from the expected copper production of 660,000 to 720,000 tonnes in 2024. The substantial boost is largely attributed to the 50% increase in output from the Oyu Tolgoi copper mine in Mongolia, one of the company’s flagship assets. This mine, located in the South Gobi region, plays a crucial role in Rio Tinto’s long-term strategy, which aims to achieve a production target of 1 million tonnes of copper annually by 2030. Oyu Tolgoi, with its rich copper reserves, is vital in positioning Rio Tinto to meet growing global demand for copper, driven by sectors such as electronics, electric vehicles, and infrastructure.

Optimism for Aluminum and Broader Metal Production Growth
Alongside copper, Rio Tinto is also forecasting an increase in aluminum production, with an expected output between 3.25 million and 3.45 million tonnes in 2025, up from 3.2 million to 3.4 million tonnes in 2024. This growth extends beyond aluminum, with production forecasts for bauxite and alumina also seeing upward revisions. Bauxite production is projected to rise from 53 million–56 million tonnes in 2024 to 57 million–59 million tonnes in 2025. Similarly, alumina output is expected to grow from 7 million–7.3 million tonnes to 7 million–7.8 million tonnes. The overall rise in production for these key materials reflects Rio Tinto’s commitment to meeting the increasing demand for metals essential in construction, energy transition technologies, and manufacturing.

Capital Investments Reinforce Growth Strategy
To support this ramp-up in production, Rio Tinto has revised its 2025 capital expenditure projections to $11 billion, a significant increase from the previous year’s $9.5 billion. This investment underscores the company’s proactive approach to expanding its mining and production capacity. By investing heavily in both existing and new projects, Rio Tinto is positioning itself to meet the future demands of industries reliant on copper and aluminum. The company’s focus on sustainable and efficient production practices, particularly at sites like Oyu Tolgoi, further strengthens its leadership in the global mining sector.