The grey metal accounts for about 10 in the profits of the group

Crisis You said crisis If judging only by the figures, published yesterday, Chinese imports of iron in September, one would almost be doubted the reality of the recession. Last month, purchases abroad of this raw material by the metallurgists of the former empire of the Middle jumped 30, thus setting a new monthly record, to about 65 million tonnes. Significant corollary orders delivered in September were in July and August, when this ore spot prices established an annual Summit in the period immediately following the imprisonment of responsible representatives of Rio Tinto in Shanghai of the commercialization of iron ore.

Chinese imports gives also to greatly relativising the practical consequences were pressing Beijing calls for the reduction of the national production of steel. The rally of September for mineral resources also translated by the return on the rise - but also unexpected than the record of imports of iron ore - the Chinese imports of copper, after two months of decline in a row.

Additional benefits

The positive figures of the iron ore market are fully reflected in production in the third quarter of Rio Tinto, published yesterday. With the help of an increase in the rate of 5 from the second quarter, the group delivered between July and September, 47.5 million tonnes of iron ore: a new quarterly record for the company. At the time, mining giant has identified 200 to 210-215 million of tonnes its estimate of production throughout the year. What, in the words of one analyst, should bring him some 100 million additional dollars of annual profits. Keep in mind that iron ore brings to Rio Tinto about half of its globaux profits.

The firm has announced that its riches mines of Australian Pilbara region operate at full capacity (46 million tonnes of iron ore extracted in the third quarter). These same mines that Rio Tinto will bring to the joint venture with BHP Billiton to form the world's leading producer of this natural resource.

Withdrawal of copper

In the wake of that of iron ore, coking coal production, essential fuel of the blast, recorded an increase of one quarter to the other, to 9 of its volume, at about 2.1 million tonnes.

Rio Tinto failed also surprise by its quarterly production of aluminum, an increase of 2 in that of the second trimestre, more than 956.000 tons. And this despite poor market conditions. This figure is considered "impressive" by an expert, reminiscent of capacity operated by the company cuts in production costs too high refining units. The grey metal accounts for about 10 in the profits of the group.

Copper (15 approximately of the overall outcome), the concentrate production decreased by 5, to about 198.000 tonnes. This retreat was however expected due to maintenance work in a unit of a lesser quality of ore extracted from the Bingham Canyon mine and refining. Despite this, Rio Tinto has confirmed its estimate of concentrate production of copper on the whole of the year: 780,000 tonnes. News disclosed yesterday by Tom Albanese group were welcomed by analysts. His action listed in London ended up 5.27.