Rio Tinto said on Monday that ship loading has restarted at three of its four iron ore port terminals in the Pilbara following disruptions caused by Tropical Cyclone Narelle. The miner reported that the three terminals resumed loading on March 28 after ports were closed on March 24.
Operations at Cape Lambert A, the fourth terminal, remain paused while repairs are carried out. The company said shipping at Cape Lambert A is expected to recommence "in the coming days".
The cyclone passed through Western Australia’s Pilbara region, prompting port closures and interrupting shipments. Earlier in the month, Cyclone Narelle brought heavy rain and power outages to Australia’s northeast coast and forced Rio Tinto to temporarily shut two bauxite mines. The storm also led South32 to suspend operations at its Gemco manganese mine, which is co-owned by Anglo American.
Rio Tinto said two tropical cyclones in February and March are estimated to have affected the firm's iron ore shipments by around eight million metric tons. The company added that it has "identified a pathway to recover around half of these losses." Despite the disruptions, Rio kept its Pilbara iron ore shipment guidance for 2026 unchanged at 323 million tons to 338 million tons.
The recent sequence of tropical storms temporarily curtailed port activity and required repairs at at least one terminal, but Rio's public statements underscored that most loading operations have resumed and that management believes a partial recovery of the lost volumes is achievable. The company’s unchanged guidance indicates management’s assessment that the impact can be absorbed within its expected annual shipment range.
Summary of facts
- Three of Rio Tinto’s four Pilbara terminals resumed ship loading on March 28 after closures on March 24.
- Cape Lambert A remains under repair and is expected to restart "in the coming days."
- Two tropical cyclones in February and March are estimated to have reduced shipments by around eight million metric tons; Rio says it can recover about half of those losses.
- Rio’s 2026 Pilbara iron ore shipment guidance remains at 323 million tons to 338 million tons.