en.Wedoany.com Report, Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm recently stated that the energy transition and computing power demands are driving structural changes in commodity demand. He emphasized that China remains Rio Tinto's largest market, contributing nearly 57% of its sales revenue in 2025. Stausholm pointed out: "We work closely with our Chinese customers, which strengthens the supply chain and supports low-carbon production." Rio Tinto is adjusting its asset portfolio to focus on iron ore, copper, aluminum, and lithium to meet strong future demand.
Stausholm noted that mergers and acquisitions are in Rio Tinto's DNA, but the company takes a cautious approach. He said: "We only pursue M&A when we can see clear value." Recently, Rio Tinto abandoned a potential merger with Glencore after concluding it would not create value. The copper business has become a growth engine, with production increasing by 8% and EBITDA reaching $7.4 billion in 2025. Rio Tinto aims to achieve copper equivalent production of 1 million tonnes by 2030 through organic growth and partnerships.
Regarding its lithium business, Rio Tinto acquired the Rincon project in Argentina and the Arcadium Lithium project in the US, planning to increase annual production capacity to 200,000 tonnes by 2028. Stausholm stated that lithium will be an excellent and evolving business. The company is also streamlining its structure, focusing on four core commodities, and delegating decision-making authority to the asset level to improve efficiency.
On the Chinese market, Stausholm emphasized that China will maintain its position as the largest consumer. Rio Tinto ships approximately 250 million tonnes of iron ore to China annually, with the high-grade ore from the Simandou project aligning with the transformation needs of China's steel industry. In terms of cooperation, Rio Tinto, together with Chinalco, jointly acquired Brazilian aluminum assets, which Stausholm said was based on shared interests and trust. In 2025, Rio Tinto's procurement in China reached $4.3 billion, reflecting maturity and confidence in the supply chain. He concluded: "Through cooperation, we can ensure the supply of materials the world needs." Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm reiterated that with China as the largest market, mining M&A must be based on clear value to support global material supply.
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