Rio Tinto reports largely flat first-half profit

(Reuters) -Rio Tinto reported a largely flat half-year underlying earnings growth on Wednesday as slightly weaker iron prices were partially offset by stable shipments.

Iron ore prices tumbled about 15% in the first half as top consumer China continues to deal with a years-long property crisis that has put a lid on demand, along with below-expected stimulus from Beijing.

Average realised prices for Rio’s flagship Pilbara iron ore slipped marginally to $97.30 per wet metric ton (wmt) in the first half from $98.60 per wmt a year earlier.

© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: The Rio Tinto logo is displayed above the global mining group's booth at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference in Toronto, Ontario, Canada March 7, 2023. REUTERS/Chris Helgren/File Photo

The world’s largest iron ore producer reported underlying earnings of $5.8 billion for the six months ended June 30, compared with $5.7 billion a year ago and Visible Alpha consensus of $5.80 billion.

The miner declared an interim dividend of $1.77 per share, in-line with last year’s payout.