Q1 Production Report-Part 1

Rio Tinto PLC
24 April 2001




PART 1
                                                                             
                    Rio Tinto Quarterly Production Report                     
                     For the Quarter Ending 31 March 2001                     
 

Production of all principal commodities was higher in the first quarter of
2001 compared with the same quarter in 2000 following Rio Tinto's various
acquisitions over the past twelve months.
 
 
* Iron ore production in the quarter was 44 per cent higher than the
comparable quarter in 2000 but 11 per cent lower than the high last quarter
of 2000. Hamersley Iron in Australia achieved record first quarter production
and shipments but winter conditions impacted production at IOC in Canada. 
 
* Coal production was 15 per cent higher than the first quarter of 2000 and
one per cent higher than the last quarter of 2000. The 15 per cent increase
includes a 40 per cent increase in coal production in Australia, following
the recent acquisitions, and a seven per cent increase in US coal production. 
 
* Mined copper production was 16 per cent higher than the comparable quarter
in 2000 but down 10 per cent on the last quarter of 2000 primarily due to
lower recoveries at Escondida, Chile and lower ore grades at Grasberg,
Indonesia. 
 
* Mined gold production was 40 per cent higher than the comparable quarter of
2000 and seven per cent higher than the last quarter of 2000 mainly due to
higher grades at Bingham Canyon, US and at Grasberg. 
 
* Primary aluminium metal production was 32 per cent higher than the first
quarter of 2000 helped by the acquisition of the Comalco minorities but down
slightly on the last quarter of 2000. 
 
* Diamond production was 28 per cent higher than the comparable quarter of
2000 and eight per cent higher than the last quarter of 2000 following the
acquisition of Ashton Mining. 
 
* Borates and titanium dioxide feedstock production were both up marginally
on the first quarter of 2000. Compared with the last quarter of 2000, borate
production was unchanged but titanium dioxide feedstock was down marginally
by three per cent. 
 
For further information, please contact:
                                                                  
              LONDON                     AUSTRALIA                
              Media Relations            Media Relations          
              Lisa Cullimore             Ian Head                 
              + 44 (0) 20 7753 2305      [phone]      
              Investor Relations         Investor Relations       
              Peter Jarvis               Dave Skinner             
              + 44 (0) 20 7753 2401      [phone]      
              Jonathan Murrin            Daphne Morros            
              + 44 (0) 20 7753 2326      [phone]    
  
Website: www.riotinto.com


RIO TINTO PRODUCTION SUMMARY                         

RIO TINTO share of production

                                                         % Change
                 Quarter                   Full Year    Q1 01   Q1 01
             2000    2000    2001          2000           vs      vs
             Q1      Q4      Q1                         Q4 00   Q1 00

Principal Commodities

Aluminium
('000 t)     142.7   194.7   188.0         692.3        -3%     32%
Borates
('000 t)     145     149     148           590          0%      2%
Coal
('000 t)     31,243  35,390  35,774        131,706      1%      15%
Copper - mined
('000 t)     204.5   264.0   238.1         895.6        -10%    16%
Copper - refined
('000 t)     98.3    106.3   100.5         392.0        -5%     -2%
Diamonds
('000 cts)   3,983   4,694   5,086         17,205       8%      28%
Gold - mined
('000
ozs)         640     836     896           2,730        7%      40%
Gold - refined
('000
ozs)         80      121     102           413          -15%    28%
Iron ore
('000 t)     14,321  23,159  20,674        72,453       -11%    44%
Titanium dioxide
feedstock
('000 t)     349     368     356           1,368        -3%     2%


Other Metals & Minerals

Alumina
('000 t)     301     436     394           1,530        -10%    31%
Bauxite
('000 t)     2,137   3,111   3,032         11,005       -3%     42%
Lead - mined
('000 t)     3.5     10.0    9.3           24.7         -7%     165%
Molybdenum
('000 t)     2.3     2.3     2.8           10.1         25%     22%
Nickel in matte
(tonnes)     2,561   2,674   2,710         8,738        1%      6%
Nickel - refined
(tonnes)     973     927     910           3,887        -2%     -7%
Salt
('000 t)     665     711     899           2,987        26%     35%
Silver - mined
('000 ozs)   3,443   3,994   4,532         14,428       13%     32%
Silver - refined
('000 ozs)   776     821     657           3,218        -20%    -15%
Talc
('000 t)     321     302     322           1,260        7%      0%
Tin
(tonnes)     109     39      115           611          192%    5%
Uranium
(tonnes)     567     1,418   1,405         3,446        -1%     148%
Zinc - mined
('000 t)     9.9     28.8    25.3          74.2         -12%    156%
Zinc - refined
('000 t)     17.8    17.3    18.2          69.2         5%      2%


NB  Throughout this report, figures in italics indicate adjustments made
    since the figure was previously quoted on the equivalent page.

    The figures shown for production are sometimes more precise than the
    rounded numbers shown, hence small differences may result between the
    total of the quarter figures and the full year figures.


                                                                              
PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES                                                         
                            

Rio Tinto Share of Production

                                                                   Full
                           1Q       2Q      3Q      4Q      1Q     Year
         Interest          2000     2000    2000    2000    2001   2000

ALUMINA
Production
('000 tonnes)
Eurallumina (a)
         56%               103      117     146     146     137    512
Queensland
Alumina (a)
         30%               198      246     284     290     257    1,017
Rio Tinto total
Alumina production         301      362     430     436     394    1,530

ALUMINIUM
Refined production
('000 tonnes)
Anglesey
         51%               17.8     18.0    18.0    19.5    18.0   73.3
Bell Bay (a)
         100%              26.9     32.4    40.6    40.9    39.3   140.8
Boyne Island (a)
         54%               50.5     57.0    68.9    68.9    66.2   245.4
Tiwai Point (a)
         79%               47.4     54.2    65.8    65.4    64.4   232.8
Rio Tinto total
Aluminium production       142.7    161.6   193.3   194.7   188.0  692.3

BAUXITE
Production
('000 tonnes)
Boke (a) 4%                125      144     111     119     119    499
Weipa (a)100%              2,011    2,513   2,990   2,992   2,913  10,507
Rio Tinto total
Bauxite production         2,137    2,657   3,101   3,111   3,032  11,005

BORATES
Borates
('000 tonnes B2O3 content)
Rio Tinto total
borate production
         100%              145      135     161     149     148    590


                  Coal
COAL              Type

Australian coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Coal & Allied Industries(b):
Bengalla (c)
         29%       S       -        -       -       -       269    -
Hunter Valley
Operations (d)
         73%       S       869      1,101   1,019   1,095   1,067  4,084
         73%       M       546      637     424     394     888    2,001
Mount Thorley
         58%       S       246      239     368     371     283    1,224
         58%       M       348      273     306     333     226    1,259
Moura (c)
         40%       S       -        -       -       -       145    -
         40%       M       -        -       -       -       261    -
Narama (c)
         36%       S       -        -       -       -       142    -
Ravensworth
East (c)
         73%       S       -        -       -       -       126    -
Warkworth (c)
         32%       S       -        -       -       -       305    -
         32%       M       -        -       -       -       54     -

Pacific Coal:
Blair Athol Coal
         71%       S       1,733    1,848   1,877   2,406   2,160  7,864
Kestrel Coal
         80%       S       176      246     256     226     179    904
         80%       M       348      472     532     381     327    1,733
Tarong   Coal
         100%      S       1,256    1,049   1,268   1,470   1,316  5,043


Total Australian coal      5,522    5,865   6,049   6,676   7,747  24,113

Indonesian coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Kaltim Prima
Coal (e) 50%       S       1,146    1,660   1,514   2,249   1,619  6,568

US coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Kennecott Energy:
Antelope
         100%      S       5,076    5,035   5,486   5,240   5,426  20,837
Colowyo (f)
         100%      S       1,168    1,225   1,268   1,030   1,276  4,691
Cordero Rojo
         100%      S       8,899    7,204   9,018   9,917   9,702  35,038
Decker    50%      S       1,056    1,148   1,220   1,105   1,155  4,529
Jacobs Ranch
         100%      S       5,726    5,965   7,352   6,635   7,003  25,678
Spring Creek
         100%      S       2,650    2,668   2,397   2,538   1,845  10,253


Total US coal              24,575   23,245  26,741  26,465  26,407 101,026

Rio Tinto total
coal production            31,243  30,769  34,303  35,390 35,774   131,706

Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal
produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these
products are then refined on-site, except for the data for iron ore which
represent production of saleable quantities of ore plus pellets.
Key to coal type: S = Steaming/thermal coal, M = Metallurgical/coking coal.
See footnotes on page 6.

COPPER

Mine production
('000 tonnes)
Alumbrera (g)
         25%             -       -       5.0     10.3    11.2   15.3
Bingham Canyon
         100%            69.7    74.1    70.5    81.4    80.0   295.7
Escondida
         30%             67.0    63.7    70.9    71.9    64.1   273.5
Grasberg -
FCX (h)
         14%             18.5    17.5    23.3    27.7    25.3   87.0
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (h)
         40%             24.5    23.1    24.8    44.3    27.1   116.8
Neves Corvo
         49%             11.9    11.7    8.1     5.7     11.2   37.4
Northparkes (g)
         80%             -       -       5.2     10.0    10.9   15.2
Palabora (i)
         49%             13.0    13.9    15.1    12.7    8.2    54.7

Rio Tinto total
mine production          204.5   204.1   223.0   264.0  238.1   895.6
Refined production ('000 tonnes)
Atlantic Copper (h)
         17%             9.7     9.9     10.6    9.8     10.1   40.1
Escondida
         30%             10.5    10.5    10.4    10.7    10.9   42.1
Kennecott Utah Copper
         100%            69.9    61.1    65.8    71.9    67.0   268.7
Palabora
         49%             8.3     6.7     12.2    14.0    12.4   41.1
Rio Tinto total
refined production       98.3    88.2    99.1    106.3   100.5  392.0

At the end of the periods, the Group had provisionally priced sales of copper
in concentrates and intermediate product as follows:
Million lbs of payable copper:

Alumbrera (g)
         25%             -       -       -       13      20     13
Escondida
         30%             115     100     99      110     126    110
Grasberg (h)
         14%             58      45      54      65      50     65
Kennecott
         100%            -       11      11      37      20     37
Neves Corvo
         49%             11      9       9       8       13     8
Northparkes (g)
         80%             -       -       6       15      13     15

Rio Tinto total          184     165     179     248     241    248

Priced at US
c/lb average             78      81      89      83      77     83

DIAMONDS

Production ('000 carats)
Argyle   (j)
         99.8%           3,983   4,494   4,034   4,657   5,072  17,168
Other (j)  -             -       -       -       37      15     37

Rio Tinto
total diamond
production               3,983   4,494   4,034   4,694   5,086  17,205
GOLD

Mine production ('000 ounces)

Alumbrera (g)
         25%             -       -       19      33      34     52
Barneys Canyon
         100%            33      35      37      48      37     153
Bingham Canyon
         100%            111     143     154     121     151    529
Cortez/Pipeline
         40%             125     86      76      118     118    404
Escondida
         30%             10      8       11      9       7      39
Grasberg -
FCX (h)
         14%             59      48      54      100     108    261
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (h)
         40%             113     87      88      190     222    478
Greens Creek
         70%             15      15      13      15      16     58
Kelian
         90%             68      55      93      88      94     304
Lihir (k)
         16%             20      23      25      31      30     99
Morro do Ouro
         51%             30      30      28      29      24     117
Northparkes (g)
         80%             -       -       2       4       7      6
Peak
         100%            32      35      37      26      20     130
Rawhide
         51%             14      14      14      12      13     53

Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
         56%             9       10      11      10      11     39

Others:                  2       1       2       2       3      7
Rio Tinto total
mine production          640     590     664     836    896     2,730

Refined production
('000 ounces)
Kennecott
Utah Copper
         100%            80      110     102     121     102    413

Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal
produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these
products are then refined on-site.
See footnotes on page 6.

IRON ORE

Production ('000 tonnes)
Channar
         60%             1,556   1,479   1,639   1,687   1,472  6,361
Corumba
         100%            147     173     281     178     156    778
Hamersley
         100%            12,618  12,978  14,642  14,857  13,579 55,095
Iron Ore Company
Of Canada (g)
         56%             -       -       1,221   2,222   1,874  3,442
Robe River (g)
         53%             -       -       2,560   4,216   3,594  6,776

Rio Tinto
total mine production    14,321  14,630  20,343  23,159  20,674 72,453

PRINCIPAL COMMODITIES (continued)
Rio Tinto Share of Production
                                                                Full
                         1Q      2Q      3Q      4Q      1Q     Year
      Interest           2000    2000    2000    2000    2001   2000
LEAD
Mine production
('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek
         70%             3.5     3.6     3.7     3.4     3.6    14.2
Zinkgruvan (g)
         100%            -       -       3.9     6.6     5.7    10.5
Rio Tinto
Total mine
Production               3.5     3.6     7.6     10.0    9.3    24.7

MOLYBDENUM
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Bingham Canyon
         100%            2.3     3.0     2.5     2.3     2.8    10.1

NICKEL
Nickel in matte (tonnes)
Fortaleza
         100%            2,561   2,170   1,333   2,674   2,710  8,738

Toll refined metal production (tonnes)
Rio Tinto
Zimbabwe - Empress
         56%             973     939     1,047   927     910    3,887

SALT
Production ('000 tonnes)
Dampier
         65%             665     869     742     711     899    2,987

SILVER
Mine production ('000 ounces)
Bingham Canyon
         100%            916     952     1,066   1,005   1,029  3,939
Escondida
         30%             231     265     258     231     255    985
Grasberg - FCX (h)
         14%             128     122     159     205     213    615
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (h)
         40%             75      48      47      208     76     378
Greens Creek
         70%             1,758   1,779   1,390   1,567   2,285  6,494
Zinkgruvan (g)
         100%            -       -       271     431     347    702

Others   -               335     283     350     349     326    1,316
Rio Tinto total
mine production          3,443   3,450   3,541   3,994   4,532  14,428

Refined production ('000 ounces)
Kennecott
Utah Copper
         100%            776     709     912     821     657    3,218
TALC
Production ('000 tonnes)
Luzenac Group
         99.9%           321     315     323     302     322    1,260
TIN
Mine production (tonnes)
Neves Corvo
         49%             109     275     187     39      115    611

TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK
Production
('000 tonnes)
Rio Tinto Iron &
Titanium
         100%            349     310     341     368     356    1,368


Mine production figures for metals refer to the total quantity of metal
produced in concentrates or dore bullion irrespective of whether these
products are then refined on-site. The nickel in matte production reflects the
contained tonnage of nickel.
See footnotes on page 6.

Rio Tinto Share of Production

                                                                Full
                         1Q      2Q      3Q      4Q      1Q     Year
         Interest        2000    2000    2000    2000    2001   2000

URANIUM
Production (tonnes U3O8)
Energy Resources
of Australia (g)
               68%       -       -       375     832     903    1,207
Palabora       49%       7       9       16      13      6      45

Rossing        69%       561     498     563     573     497    2,195

Rio Tinto total
uranium production       567     507     954     1,418   1,405  3,446

ZINC
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek
               70%       9.9     11.2    11.4    10.1    10.0   42.7

Zinkgruvan (g)
               100%      -       -       12.8    18.7    15.3   31.5
Rio Tinto total
Mine production          9.9     11.2    24.2    28.8   25.3    74.2

Refined production ('000 tonnes)
Norzink (l)
               50%       17.8    16.5    17.6    17.3    18.2   69.2

(a)  During 2000, Rio Tinto acquired all the outstanding shares in Comalco. 
Rio Tinto's share of production has been calculated using the weighted average
of Rio Tinto's interest over the relevant periods.

(b)  During March 2001, Rio Tinto increased its stake in Coal & Allied from
70.88% to 72.71%. Rio Tinto's share of production has been calculated  using
the weighted average of Rio Tinto's interest over the relevant periods.

(c)  Coal & Allied has purchased the Australian subsidiaries of the Peabody
Group. Production data are shown from 30 January 2001,the effective date of
acquisition.

(d)  Production from the Lemington mine, acquired by Coal & Allied with effect
from 20 December 2000, is included with Hunter Valley Operations.

(e)  Rio Tinto has a 50% share in Kaltim Prima and, under the terms of its
Coal Agreement, the Indonesian Government is entitled to a 13.5% share of
Kaltim Prima's production.  Rio Tinto's share of production shown is before
deduction of the Government share.

(f)  Kennecott Energy has a partnership interest in the Colowyo mine, but, as
it is responsible under a management agreement for the operation of the mine,
all of Colowyo's output is included in Rio Tinto's share of production.

(g)  Rio Tinto's share of production from the assets owned by North Limited is
shown with effect from 11 August 2000, the effective date of the acquisition.

(h)  Rio Tinto's initial interests in the Grasberg mine and in the Atlantic
Copper smelter were acquired in 1995 by virtue of an acquisition of shares in
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold (FCX).  As a result of FCX share buy-backs, Rio
Tinto's interest in FCX has changed and, as of 31 March 2001,  Rio Tinto had,
by virtue of its FCX shareholding, a 14.3% share in Grasberg and a 16.6% share
in Atlantic Copper. Under the Joint Venture agreement with FCX, Rio Tinto is
entitled to 40% of additional material mined as a consequence of the expansion
of the Grasberg facilities. The additional entitlement is shown separately in
the above tables.

(i)  Rio Tinto increased its holding in Palabora from 46.5% to 48.6% during
November 2000.

(j)  On 10 November 2000, Rio Tinto acquired control of Ashton Mining and, as
of 17 January 2001, owned 100%. As a result of this purchase, with effect from
10 November 2000, Rio Tinto's effective interest in Argyle Diamonds increased
from 59.7% to 99.8%. Shown separately is Rio Tinto's share of production from
Ashton's diamond interests apart from Argyle.

(k)  Effective 14 February 2000, Rio Tinto's interest in Lihir decreased from
17.15% to 16.3% following a placement of shares by Lihir Gold.

(l)  Rio Tinto completed the sale of its interest in Norzink on 17 April 2001.

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