What caused Rio Tinto's copper output to decline by 7% in Q2, and how long is the impact expected to last?

Rio Tinto's copper output slipped 7% quarter-on-quarter due to unplanned shutdowns at its Kennecott copper operation in Utah, specifically from problems at the Kennecott smelter that forced the shutdown of a furnace requiring rebuilding. The mine — which supplies 15–20% of US domestic copper demand — is expected to remain affected for the next six months, according to Rio's operational update.

Despite the copper production setback, what key guidance and strategic priorities did Rio Tinto reaffirm for its copper business?

Despite the Kennecott outage, Rio Tinto maintained its full-year copper production guidance of more than 800,000 tons and emphasized copper's centrality to its growth strategy, citing accelerating demand from the energy transition and the expansion of artificial intelligence data centers; it also noted cost reductions across its copper business.

Rio Tinto's Copper Output Slips on US Smelter Outage

Jul 14, 2026

Rio Tinto reported a 7% drop in Q2 copper output due to a Utah smelter outage, while iron ore shipments rose 17%. The company maintained full-year guidance despite higher diesel costs and geopolitical risks affecting operations.

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Rio Tinto's Copper Output Slips on US Smelter Outage

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