LKAB's Q3 Iron Ore Shipments Rose to 6.8 Million Tonnes

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On October 28, Swedish state-owned mining company LKAB released its Q3 2026 report. Iron ore product output in the third quarter was 6.7 million tonnes, down 2.9% year-on-year, while shipments reached 6.8 million tonnes, up 9.7% year-on-year, with pellets accounting for 86% of shipments. Rail and port transportation remained stable, with few transport disruptions during the quarter.

In the third quarter, LKAB's iron ore production pace remained generally stable, but extended planned maintenance shutdowns affected output. In the first three quarters, the company produced a cumulative 19.2 million tonnes of iron ore products, compared with 19.4 million tonnes in the same period last year; cumulative shipments were 19.1 million tonnes, compared with 18.8 million tonnes in the same period last year.

After ore crushing conditions improved at the Kiruna mine, LKAB adjusted its earlier plan to shut down a processing plant, reducing it to an extended maintenance shutdown. Due to improved production conditions, all processing plants in the Kiruna mining area remained in operation during the second and third quarters, and the previously planned processing plant shutdown was not implemented.

On the logistics side, LKAB mitigated the impact of the Middle East conflict and transport disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz on shipments in the third quarter by adjusting customer and transportation arrangements. The company also noted that planned maintenance on the autumn iron ore transport line has been delayed, and the number of subsequent line closures will be greater than previously expected, which may affect iron ore shipments.