Rio Tinto PLC (RIO.US) announced on Monday that three of its four iron ore export terminals in the Pilbara region of Western Australia have resumed operations after being impacted by Tropical Cyclone Narelle. While the cyclone temporarily disrupted shipments, the company confirmed its full-year shipment guidance remains unchanged. Earlier this month, Cyclone Narelle brought heavy rainfall and caused power outages along Australia's northeastern coast, forcing the mining giant to temporarily shut down two bauxite mines. South32 also suspended operations at the Gemco manganese mine, a joint venture with Anglo American. After making landfall on Australia's northwest coast last week, the cyclone forced the closure of ports in the iron ore-rich Pilbara region. The world's largest iron ore producer stated that following the port closures on March 24, three terminals resumed ship-loading activities on March 28. The company indicated that the fourth terminal, Cape Lambert A, which is currently undergoing repairs, is expected to resume shipments "within the coming days." Rio Tinto noted that two tropical cyclones in February and March are estimated to have affected approximately 8 million metric tons of its iron ore shipments, adding that "plans are in place to recover around half of these impacts." The company maintained its 2026 Pilbara iron ore shipment guidance of 323 to 338 million metric tons.
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