Robert Stein's questions to RIO TINTO (RIO) leadership • H1 2025
Question
Robert Stein from Macquarie Group questioned the iron ore market outlook, asking for specifics on where depletion from major producers is expected to occur. He also inquired about how Rio Tinto is managing global inflation and productivity pressures compared to competitors who are deferring CapEx.
Answer
CEO Jakob Stausholm explained that depletion is a general industry trend, evidenced by declining grades across the Pilbara, and that Simandou's market addition will be absorbed by natural depletion. On costs, both Stausholm and CFO Peter Cunningham emphasized a focus on continuous improvement and efficiency rather than aggressive cost-cutting, highlighting specific efforts at Kennecott and RTIT while maintaining that the overall portfolio remains highly profitable.