Wen Hua Cai Jing·2026-01-22 00:43Group 1 - Rio Tinto's fourth-quarter copper production exceeded expectations, driven by the expansion of underground capacity at the Oyu Tolgoi mine, offsetting a decline in production at the Escondida mine in Chile [2][4] - The consolidated copper production for the fourth quarter increased by 5% year-on-year to 240,000 tons, surpassing the general estimate of 214,400 tons [2][4] - Annual copper production rose by 11% to 883,000 tons, exceeding Rio Tinto's guidance of 860,000 to 875,000 tons [2][3] Group 2 - The copper business accounts for about one-quarter of Rio Tinto's half-year profits, which is still modest compared to iron ore, but is crucial for the company's long-term growth ambitions and ongoing acquisition talks with Glencore [3][4] - At the Escondida mine, production decreased by 10% year-on-year due to lower grades and reduced output from the concentrator, while Oyu Tolgoi's production increased by 57%, supporting the overall copper revenue for the group [3][4]