Diversified giant Rio Tinto’s iron-ore output surged by 49% in the fourth quarter of 2009, as a result of continued high demand from China, CE Tom Albanese reported. “In the Pilbara [region] we achieved record sales for both the quarter and the full year and both global and Pilbara production set new records in 2009,” he told shareholders in a statement.
See http://www.miningweekly.com/article/rio-tinto-q4-iron-ore-output-jumps-49-2010-01-14.