IRON MINES AND MINING – WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Rio Tinto starts work on last crown jewel in Pilbara

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Original article by Tom Rabe
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 17-Dec-25

Rio Tinto and its partners in the Rhodes Ridge iron project in the Pilbara will spend $US191m ($294m) on a feasibility study, with a view to commencing production in 2030. They will spend a further $US146m on exploration at Rhodes Ridge between 2026 and 2028. Japan-base Mitsui paid $8.4bn for a 40 per cent stake in Rhodes Ridge earlier in 2025; AMB Holdings, the private company of Perth billionaire Angela Bennett, has a 10 per cent stake. Rhodes Ridge has an estimated 6.8 billion tonnes of high-grade ore, and it has the potential for annual production about 100 million tonnes of high-quality iron ore

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MITSUI AND COMPANY LIMITED, AMB HOLDINGS PTY LTD

China and Australia in new rare earths and iron ore disputes

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Original article by Tim Treadgold
Forbes – Page: Online : 26-Nov-25

Northern Minerals is concerned that Chinese investors may have failed to comply with a federal government directive to divest shares in the rare earths miner. Its Browns Range project contains heavy rare earths such as dysprosium and terbium, and Northern Minerals is in talks with the US government-owned Export-Import Bank regarding a $US250m loan to help finance further work at the undeveloped project. In separate but potentially related action – given that China is a common link – media reports have suggested that the China Mineral Resources Group has extended a ban on steel mills purchasing certain types of iron ore from BHP. CMRG initially banned BHP’s Jimbelbar fines earlier this year, but this is said to have been expanded to include Jingbao fines.

CORPORATES
NORTHERN MINERALS LIMITED – ASX NTU, CHINA MINERAL RESOURCES GROUP COMPANY LIMITED, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

BHP sees resilient iron ore demand as China slows

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Original article by Mark Wembridge
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 15 : 22-Oct-25

BHP has advised that its Pilbara iron ore production totalled 64 million tonnes in the September quarter, which is one per cent lower than the same period in 2024. The lower output has been attributed to repair work at its Port Hedland infrastructure, but BHP says it is still on track to achieve its full-year production guidance of between 258 million tonnes and 269 million tonnes for 2025-26. BHP expects global demand for iron ore to remain strong, despite expectations of slowing growth in China and the ongoing but yet-to-be confirmed reports that China has banned BHP’s iron ore imports. BHP’s copper production rose by four per cent year-on-year.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP

US, China trade tensions driving iron ore price surge: Rio Tinto

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Original article by Peter Ker
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 17 : 15-Oct-25

Data from S&P Global Platts shows that the price of iron ore with 62 per cent iron content has risen to its highest level since 21 February; the price of benchmark iron ore has also risen by 18 per cent since 25 June. Rio Tinto says demand for iron ore is holding up despite the trade tensions between the US and China. Rio Tinto shipped 84.3 million tonnes of Pilbara iron ore in the September quarter, putting it back on track to achieve its full-year target of 323 million tonnes following storm disruptions in early 2025; however, Rio Tinto will need to ship 88 million tonnes in the December quarter.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, S&P GLOBAL PLATTS

Rio, Japanese in Pilbara mine deal

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Original article by Mark Wembridge
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 16 : 8-Oct-25

Rio Tinto has secured state and federal government approvals to develop new iron ore deposits at the West Angelas hub in the Pilbara. Rio Tinto and its Robe River joint venture partners, Mitsui and Nippon Steel, will invest $US733m ($1.1bn) to expand the West Angelas mine, with Rio Tinto to contribute $US389m. The expansion of West Angelas will maintain its annual production capacity of 35 million tonnes. Rio Tinto launched its Western Range iron ore joint venture with China-based Baowu in June, as part of its ongoing commitment to the Pilbara.

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, MITSUI AND COMPANY LIMITED, NIPPON STEEL AND SUMITOMO METAL CORPORATION, CHINA BAOWU STEEL GROUP CORPORATION LIMITED

BHP stays silent on China’s iron ore ban

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 15 : 1-Oct-25

State-run iron ore trader China Mineral Resources Group is said to have imposed a temporary ban on BHP’s shipments of the steel input due to an ongoing dispute over the renewal of long-term supply contracts. The dispute began in mid-September, when CMRG instructed steel mills not to accept delivery of a BHP product known as Jimblebar blend fines or to buy such shipments on the spot market; the ban has now been extended to all BHP iron ore shipments, according to Bloomberg. CMRG was established in 2022 to improve China’s ability to negotiate with iron ore miners, and it now represents more than half of China’s steelmakers in contract discussions. BHP has declined to comment on the import ban.

CORPORATES
BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, CHINA MINERAL RESOURCES GROUP COMPANY LIMITED

MinRes chairman in line for $11m windfall

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Original article by Mark Wembridge
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 14 & 19 : 24-Sep-25

The annual salary of Mineral Resources’ non-executive chairman Malcolm Bundey comprises $750,000 in cash and shares. However, Bundey will also be entitled to 780,000 stock options, subject to approval by shareholders at the iron ore and lithium miner’s AGM in November. His stock options will vest between $30 and $40 a share, and they have an exercise price of $25.40. Bundey’s options will be worth about $11.39m if the company’s shares remain above $40 at certain points over the next three years. Mineral Resources’ shares are currently trading at around $40, having reached a low of $14 in April.

CORPORATES
MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN

High-grade threat to Australian iron ore

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Original article by Jennifer Hewett
The Australian Financial Review – Page: 2 : 3-Sep-25

Australia exported about $120 billion worth of iron ore from the Pilbara during 2024-25. However, Vale executive Rogerio Nogueira contends that Brazil has a key advantage over Australia because its iron ore is better suited to beneficiation; this process removes contaminants such as silicon or alumina to produce the higher-grade ore that will be needed to make steel using natural gas or hyrogen instead of coal. Australia’s iron ore miners are already facing the problem of decline ore grades in the Pilbara.

CORPORATES
VALE SA

Rio reveals 80-year plan for Pilbara iron ore mines

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 29-Jul-25

Rio Tinto is seeking environmental approval from the Western Australian government for its East Pilbara Strategic Proposal. Rio Tinto has stated that the EPSP covers potential future developments in the region over the next eight decades, including iron ore mining and renewable energy projects, as well as supporting infrastructure. BHP secured approval for a similar proposal in the Pilbara in 2019, which enabled project approvals to be streamlined. Rio Tinto’s long-term commitment to the Pilbara is in contrast to recent warnings from Fortescue’s founder Andrew Forrest that the region is at risk of becoming a ‘wasteland’

CORPORATES
RIO TINTO LIMITED – ASX RIO, BHP GROUP LIMITED – ASX BHP, FORTESCUE LIMITED – ASX FMG

MinRes softens on exit of Ellison

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Original article by Brad Thompson
The Australian – Page: 13 & 19 : 9-Jul-25

Mineral Resources’ MD Chris Ellison had been expected to leave the iron ore and lithium miner by April 2026. However, the company has told investors that chairman Malcolm Bundey is reviewing its leadership transition plan, which was put in place in late 2024 after Ellison was embroiled in a tax evasion scandal. MinRes indicated that the review will take into consideration the best interests of shareholders. MinRes is also under scrutiny over its dealings with Kali Metals and a deal to award a contract to a company that has links to Ellison’s daughter.

CORPORATES
MINERAL RESOURCES LIMITED – ASX MIN, KALI METALS LIMITED – ASX KM1