RIO TINTO SHIPS EIGHT BILLIONTH TONNE OF PILBARA IRON ORE

Rio Tinto has shipped its eight billionth tonne of iron ore from the Pilbara.

The milestone shipment left Cape Lambert port on Wednesday aboard the Juno Horizon, bound for Japan’s Nippon Steel. The company says the volume is enough to produce the steel needed to build around 161,000 Optus Stadiums.

Rio Tinto’s first iron ore shipment from the Pilbara sailed in 1966, also to Japan.

Iron Ore Chief Executive Matthew Holcz called the achievement a testament to generations of workers and said the long-standing partnership with Japan remains a cornerstone of the business.

Most of Rio’s Pilbara iron ore continues to be shipped to steel mills in China.