19th Feb 2026 06:39
(Alliance News) - Rio Tinto PLC on Thursday said profit declined in 2025 despite higher revenue, as rising operating and finance costs weighed on performance.
The London and Melbourne, Australia-based diversified miner said pretax profit fell 6.7% to USD14.57 billion in the year ended December 31 from USD15.62 billion in the previous year.
Diluted earnings per share declined 14% to 608.4 US cents from 707.2 cents.
The company lifted its final dividend for the year by 13% to 254 cents per share from 225 cents, leaving full-year dividend unchanged at 402 cents per share.
Consolidated sales revenue grew 7.4% to USD57.64 billion from USD53.66 billion, while net operating costs excluding separately disclosed items increased 11% to USD41.78 billion from USD37.75 billion.
Free cash flow declined 28% to USD4.03 billion from USD5.55 billion.
Rio said net impairment charges fell 37% to USD341 million from USD538 million, as exploration and evaluation expenditure fell 38% to USD577 million from USD936 million.
Finance costs increased 39% to USD1.06 billion from USD763 million.
Net debt more than doubled to USD14.36 billion from USD5.49 billion.
Chief Executive Officer Simon Trott said: "Our solid financial results demonstrate clear progress as we embed our stronger, sharper and simpler way of working...We continue to invest in delivering industry-leading, value accretive growth, supported by our disciplined capital allocation and best-in class project execution."
Rio made no change to its production and sales guidance issued on December 4.
"The structural cost improvements underway today position us for higher margins and cash flow. With a high-quality pipeline, anchored in copper, we have clear visibility to extend this growth profile well into the next decade," CEO Trott said.
Rio Tinto shares closed 2.0% higher at AUD168.55 in Sydney on Thursday.
By Elijah Dale, Alliance News senior reporter Asia-Pacific
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