Rio Tinto Q3 Aluminium Output Slips 2% on Arvida Smelter Closure

Aluminum  |  2026-10-15 06:37:28   |   By

At Kitimat, higher pot and amperage levels, supported by better operating conditions and reservoir levels, contributed to increased output. Boyne also benefited from improved operational stability.

Summary
  • Rio Tinto’s Aluminium Output Declines 2% in Q3 2026
    Rio Tinto produced 842,000 tonnes of aluminium in the third quarter, down 2% compared with the same period last year. The planned closure of the Arvida smelter offset improved performance at other facilities, including Kitimat in Canada and Boyne in Australia.
  • AP60 Smelter Progresses Toward Full Production
    Commissioning activities continued at Rio Tinto’s AP60 smelter in Quebec, with construction nearing completion. Further ramp-up work is planned for 2026, while the facility is expected to reach full production capacity by 2027.
  • Alumina Production Rises as Yarwun Faces Output Constraints
    Rio Tinto’s alumina production increased 10% year-on-year in the third quarter, supported by improved performance at Queensland Alumina Limited (QAL). However, tailings constraints are expected to cut Yarwun refinery production by 40% in Q4 2026, reducing annual output by approximately 1.2 million tonnes while extending the refinery’s operating life to 2035.

SEATTLE (Scrap Monster): Rio Tinto recorded a modest decline in aluminium production in the third quarter of 2026. The company noted that the planned closure of its Arvida smelter offset gains at several other facilities.

The mining major produced 842,000 tonnes of aluminium during the quarter, down 2% from the corresponding period last year. Improved operating performance at its Kitimat smelter in British Columbia and Boyne facility in Queensland helped limit the decline.

At Kitimat, higher pot and amperage levels, supported by better operating conditions and reservoir levels, contributed to increased output. Boyne also benefited from improved operational stability.

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Meanwhile, commissioning activities continued at Rio Tinto's AP60 smelter in Quebec, where construction is nearing completion. Further ramp-up work is scheduled for 2026, with full production capacity expected by 2027.

The company's alumina business delivered stronger results, with quarterly production rising 10% year-on-year, supported by improved performance at Queensland Alumina Limited. Output also increased 3% from the second quarter as reliability improved at QAL, Yarwun and Vaudreuil.

However, Yarwun's production is expected to fall 40% in the fourth quarter of 2026 because of tailings constraints. The adjustment is projected to reduce annual output by approximately 1.2 million tonnes, but extend the refinery's operating life to 2035.