Rio Tinto Ltd's
(ASX:RIO) subsidiary Coal and Allied’s quarterly output has hit a four year high.
Greater efficiency and more equipment at its mines offset lost time due to wet weather.
Fourth-quarter production, including output from joint-venture partners, jumped 36 per cent from the previous quarter to 7.65 million tonnes, the highest quarterly result since the second quarter of 2006.
Full-year guidance of 25 to 26 million tonnes for the year had been expected. The miner came in at 25.25 million tonnes for the year at the bottom end of full year guidance because of wet weather.
For the year ended 30 June 2010 Rio Tinto reported a net profit $7.4 billion.
