Rio Tinto has celebrated the shipment of eight billion tonnes of iron ore from Western Australia’s Pilbara region, marking 60 years since the company’s first shipment left Australia for Japan.
The milestone cargo departed from Cape Lambert port aboard the Juno Horizon on May 19, bound for Nippon Steel Corporation, one of Rio Tinto’s longstanding customers.
Rio Tinto said the achievement reflects six decades of continuous operations in the Pilbara, supported by partnerships with global customers, particularly across Asia.
The company’s first Pilbara iron ore shipment departed Western Australia in August 1966 for Japan, beginning a trade relationship that continues today.
Rio Tinto Iron Ore chief executive Matthew Holcz said the shipment represented a major moment for the company and the broader Pilbara region.
“Shipping eight billion tonnes of iron ore from the Pilbara is a significant milestone and a testament to the generations of people who have built and sustained our operations, infrastructure and communities over the past 60 years,” Holcz said.
“We thank successive governments for their sustained support. We are also grateful to the Traditional Owners groups across the Pilbara for their ongoing partnership, and for the knowledge, guidance and stewardship they continue to share with us.
Rio Tinto’s Pilbara operations have played a key role in the development of six towns across the region, including Karratha, Wickham, Tom Price, Paraburdoo, Pannawonica and Dampier.
The company also supports a further five communities from the Kimberley to the Great Southern through its regional fly-in, fly-out program.
The milestone comes as Rio Tinto continues to assess future growth options across its Pilbara iron ore business.
Rio Tinto said Rhodes Ridge would help maintain its pathway to achieve and sustain mid-term capacity of 345–360 million tonnes per annum from its Pilbara iron ore business.
The eight billion tonne figure includes all iron ore shipped from the Robe River Joint Venture.