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Rio Tinto Celebrates Milestone Shipment of Iron Ore
05/21/2026 - Rio Tinto announced it has shipped its 8 billionth metric ton of iron ore to global markets from its site in the Pilbara region of Australia, a milestone 60 years in the making.
The company said the shipment departed Cape Lambert on the Juno Horizon on 19 May 2026. The first Pilbara iron ore shipment departed in August 1966.
“Shipping 8 billion metric tons 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,” said Matthew Holcz, iron ore chief executive at Rio Tinto.
Pilbara’s first shipment was made to Japan; similarly, the milestone shipment also was sent to Japan.
“Japan was Rio Tinto’s first customer for iron ore exports, and that partnership remains a cornerstone of our business today. As global steel demand increases, we’ll continue to invest in our Pilbara operations and local communities for decades to come,” Holcz continued.
“Shipping 8 billion metric tons 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,” said Matthew Holcz, iron ore chief executive at Rio Tinto.
Pilbara’s first shipment was made to Japan; similarly, the milestone shipment also was sent to Japan.
“Japan was Rio Tinto’s first customer for iron ore exports, and that partnership remains a cornerstone of our business today. As global steel demand increases, we’ll continue to invest in our Pilbara operations and local communities for decades to come,” Holcz continued.
