Comalco Qtly Production Rprt

RIO TINTO PLC
21 July 1999

                          
Comalco Production report for the quarter ended 30 June 1999

                     2Q98   3Q98    4Q98   1Q99   2Q99   1Q98   1H99

 ('000 tonnes)
Mining & Refining
Weipa mine, Queensland
(Comalco 100%):
Beneficiated bauxite
production           2,067  2,464   2,716  2,931  2,675  4,128  5,606
Metal grade bauxite
shipments            2,396  2,319   2,612  2,513  2,665  4,858  5,178
Calcined bauxite
production           42     30      47     20     32     55     51

Boke mine, Guinea
(Comalco 4%):
Bauxite production   59     110     159    107    104    160    212

Smelting
Primary aluminium
production:
Bell Bay, Tasmania
(Comalco 100%)       34.8   36.4    36.4   37.0   37.2   69.1   74.2
Boyne Island,
Queensland
(Comalco 54.2%)      62.8   64.8    65.7   64.2   66.8   126.8  131.0
Tiwai Point,
New Zealand
(Comalco 79.4%)      62.6   63.8    64.2   63.1   64.5   124.1  127.6
Total Comalco
share                160.3  164.9   166.2  164.3  168.5  320.0  332.8

Total sales of
Comalco produced
aluminium            163.4  161.9   174.1  167.3  166.6  323.7  333.9


The beneficiated bauxite stockpile was rebuilt in the first quarter of
1999 following completion of the Weipa upgrade.

The Bell Bay, Boyne Island and Tiwai Point smelters all achieved daily
average  production  records, benefiting  from  higher  amperages  and
process improvements.  All cells are now on line at Boyne Island  Line
3 following negotiation for additional electricity.

There was no expenditure on exploration for the three months ended  30
June, 1999.

For further information, please contact:
Media Relations                            Investor Relations
Geoffrey Ewing                             Dave Skinner
[phone] (office)                    [phone] (office)
[phone] (mobile)                    [phone] (mobile)