Rio Tinto has resumed its iron ore export operations in Western Australia’s Pilbara region following the passage of Tropical Cyclone Narelle.
The company confirmed that all personnel remained safe and unharmed throughout the weather event, which forced the closure of Rio’s four major Pilbara port terminals on March 24.
While the storm caused significant logistical headaches, Rio Tinto has moved quickly to restore its shipping pipelines.
Ship loading at three of the key facilities, East Intercourse Island, Parker Point, and Cape Lambert B, successfully recommenced on March 28.
However, the Cape Lambert A terminal sustained damage during the cyclone and is currently undergoing urgent repairs. Rio Tinto expects shipping at this specific facility to restart within the coming days.
The operational pause comes during a particularly volatile cyclone season for the region.
Combined with the impact of Tropical Cyclone Mitchell in February, Rio Tinto estimates that recent weather events have stripped approximately eight million tonnes from its iron ore shipments.
Despite the significant tonnage lost to the elements, the miner remains optimistic that it can meet its annual targets. The company stated it has identified a recovery pathway to claw back roughly half of the eight-million-tonne shortfall.
Rio Tinto has left its 2026 Pilbara iron ore shipment guidance unchanged. The company still expects to ship between 323 and 338 million tonnes for the year.
