The Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) share price is under the spotlight after the ASX mining share announced its quarterly update for the three months to December 2025.
Rio Tinto is one of the largest miners in the world. It produces a number of commodities including iron ore, copper, aluminium, bauxite and more.
December 2025 production
The business reported that in the three months to December 2025 its key commodities saw increased production. With the end of the 2025 calendar year, its annual numbers were revealed too.
Quarterly Pilbara iron ore production was 89.7mt, up 4% year on year. Annual production was flat at 327.3mt. The ASX mining share said the “exceptional” pace at Simandou (African iron ore project) continued, with the start of operations and first shipments in the December quarter.
Copper quarterly production grew 5% year on year to 240kt. Annual production increased 11% to 883kt. Rio Tinto said this was driven by a strong ramp-up of production at Oyu Tolgoi in Mongolia. The underground development project is now complete.
Bauxite quarterly production was flat with no growth year on year at 15.4mt. Annual production increased 6% to 62.4mt. This was a record year for production.
Aluminium quaterly production increased 2% year on year to 0.85mt. Annual production went up 3% to 3.38mt.
Iron Ore Canada (IOC) iron ore pellets and concentrate quarterly production declined 14% to 2.2mt. Annual production fell 1% to 9.3mt.
2026 guidance
The business also highlighted guidance for the year ahead in 2026.
Rio Tinto expects total iron ore sales to be between 343mt to 366mt, with three areas contributing to that. Pilbara sales are expected to be between 323mt to 338mt, Simandou sales of between 5mt to 10mt, and IOC sales of between 15mt to 18mt.
Copper production is predicted to between 800kt to 870kt.
Aluminium production is predicted to be between 3.25mt to 3.45mt.
Lithium production is expected to be between 61kt to 64kt.
Bauxite production is guided to be between 58mt to 61mt.
Final thoughts on the Rio Tinto share price
The ASX mining share is doing all the right things to grow its production. It can’t control resource prices, but it can control how much it produces.
It’s soared close to 30% in the last six months, so I wouldn’t say it’s good value today. I’d wait for when investors are less optimistic about the miner.
For now, there are other ASX dividend shares I’d rather buy for my portfolio that are more likely to grow from here into the long-term.
