Rio Tinto Posts Worst Profit Since 2004 as New CEO Starts
- Iron ore, aluminum average prices dropped 14% in first half
- Jacques took CEO role in July after steering Rio’s copper unit
Rio Tinto CEO Targets Smart, Selective M&A
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Rio Tinto Group reported its worst profit since 2004 as depressed prices for iron ore, aluminum and copper eroded earnings at the world’s second-biggest mining company.
Underlying profit fell 47 percent to $1.56 billion in the six months through June, compared with $2.92 billion a year earlier, London-based Rio said in a statement on Wednesday. That matched the $1.56 billion average estimate from seven analysts surveyed by Bloomberg. The dividend fell 58 percent to 45 cents a share, reflecting a new policy that ties the payment to earnings.