Rio Tinto reported a 43% jump in half-year underlying earnings, its biggest in four years. Copper and other non-iron ore operations drove this growth. Copper alone accounted for 39% of the company’s $6.85 billion in underlying earnings.
BHP Group also saw copper surpass iron ore in driving profits. For the six months ending December 31, copper, including gold byproducts, contributed $7.95 billion to operating earnings. This exceeded iron ore’s $7.50 billion, making up 51% of BHP’s total earnings. These miners traditionally relied heavily on iron ore demand from China’s industrial boom.
Stronger copper prices contribute significantly to these shifts. Benchmark London copper futures hit a record $14,527.50 a ton on January 29. Copper ended trade at $13,581 on Wednesday, up 68% from an 18-month low of $8,105 a ton last April. Iron ore contracts, by contrast, traded in a narrow range between $90 and $120 a ton.
Copper benefits from the energy transition and electrification, offering a stronger long-term outlook than iron ore. Rio Tinto shares gained 51% since copper’s rally began last April. BHP’s stock rose 74.1% in the same period, reflecting copper’s increasing market strength.