Rio Tinto 3QPR 2002 - Part 1

Rio Tinto PLC
23 October 2002

Part 1

                   Rio Tinto Quarterly Production Report
                 For the Quarter Ending 30 September 2002

*Iron ore production was one per cent lower than in the same period
last year. Hamersley shipments were at a new quarterly record level,
driven by strong demand, especially from China. Shipments from Robe River
increased with the start of commercial deliveries from the West Angelas
mine at the end of July.
     
*Production from the Australian and Indonesian coal operations was
eight per cent lower than in the comparable period of 2001, reflecting the
disposal in the first half of 2002 of some of the mines acquired from
Peabody and reduced production at Coal & Allied in line with market
demand.
  
*On a quarterly basis US coal production was marginally higher, but
over the first nine months of the year was lower reflecting market demand,
which was affected by mild weather conditions, and reduced production at
the  Cordero Rojo mine in the quarter due to the combination of  high
rainfall and highwall instability issues.

*Third quarter mined copper production was four per cent lower than in
the same period of 2001. Lower production reflected primarily the impact
of  production  cutbacks at Escondida and lower grades at  Kennecott,
partially offset by a higher joint venture share of Grasberg production.
Refined  copper  production in the quarter was affected  by  a  short
maintenance shutdown, in August, at the Kennecott smelter.

  
Mined  gold production was two per cent lower than the  comparable period in
2001.

Third  quarter aluminium production was five per cent above  2001,
reflecting Comalco's increased equity share of the Boyne Island smelter in
the quarter and higher production at all smelters. Alumina production was
12  per  cent higher, due to the acquisition of additional equity  in
Queensland Alumina in September 2001.

Diamond production was 12 per cent higher than in the same quarter of 2001 due
to higher grades at Argyle.

Third quarter titanium dioxide feedstock production was 14 per cent
below the same period in 2001 as production was curtailed in line with
market demand. Borates production was down seven per cent.


For further information contact:

LONDON                                  MELBOURNE
Media Relations                         Media Relations
Hugh Leggatt                            Ian Head
+ 44 (0)20 7753 2273                    + 61 (0)3 9283 3620

Investor Relations                      Investor Relations
Peter Cunningham                        Dave Skinner
+ 44 (0)20 7753 2401                         + 61 (0)3 9283 3628
Richard Brimelow                        Daphne Morros
+ 44 (0)20 7753 2326                    + 61 (0)3 9283 3639
Website: www.riotinto.com


RIO TINTO PRODUCTION SUMMARY

RIO TINTO share
of production
                                                          % CHANGE
                 QUARTER             NINE MONTHS     Q3 02  Q3 02  9 Mths 02
           2001    2002    2002      2001    2002    vs     vs     vs
           Q3      Q2      Q3                        Q2 02  Q3 01  9 Mths 01

Principal Commodities

Alumina
('000 t)   435     489     487      1,242    1,468    0%     12%   18%

Aluminium
('000 t)   191.7   193.9   202.0    569.3    587.0    4%     5%    3%
Borates
('000 t)   142     130     132      430      393      2%     -7%   -9%
Coal - Australian
and Indonesian
('000 t)   11,706  10,852  10,712   31,958   32,585   -1%    -8%   2%
Coal - US
('000 t)   25,133  26,020  25,385   78,324   77,257   -2%    1%    -1%
Copper - mined
('000 t)   222.7   228.3   214.4    698.4    643.3    -6%    -4%   -8%
Copper - refined
('000 t)   75.5    108.7   99.0     260.8    311.8    -9%    31%   20%
Diamonds
('000 cts) 8,045   8,433   9,046    18,151   23,656   7%     12%   30%
Gold - mined
('000 ozs) 906     745     890      2,747    2,322    19%    -2%   -15%
Gold - refined
('000 ozs) 88      133     123      277      383      -7%    40%   38%
Iron ore
('000 t)   24,212  21,600  24,087   67,104   68,194   12%    -1%   2%
Titanium dioxide
feedstock
('000 t)   359     318     309      1,086    955      -3%    -14%  -12%

Other Metals & Minerals

Bauxite
('000 t)   2,855   2,859   2,984    8,827    8,724    4%     5%    -1%
Lead - mined
('000 t)   9.5     9.5     12.7     29.0     30.6     34%    34%   5%
Molybdenum
('000 t)   1.5     1.3     1.7      6.5      4.7      26%    13%   -28%
Nickel in matte
(tonnes)   2,989   1,290   510      8,186    3,863    -60%   -83%  -53%
Nickel - refined
(tonnes)   992     835     987      2,827    2,765    18%    -1%   -2%
Salt
('000 t)   1,007   1,085   1,223     2,926   3,411    13%    21%   17%
Silver - mined
('000 ozs) 4,180   4,318   4,427     13,432  12,938   3%     6%    -4%
Silver - refined
('000 ozs) 626     1,104   1,178     2,117   3,072    7%     88%   45%
Talc
('000 t)   311     346     341       952     1,009    -2%    9%    6%
Tin
(tonnes)   192     36      -         517     159      -100%  -100% -69%
Uranium
(tonnes)   1,087   1,131   1,353     3,453   3,644    20%    24%   6%
Zinc - mined
('000 t)   25.7    22.8    24.7      75.5    69.9     8%     -4%   -7%
Zinc - refined
('000 t)   -       -       -         20.4    -        -      -     -

    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 nine month figures.


RIO TINTO
SHARE OF PRODUCTION


                           3Q     4Q      1Q      2Q     3Q    9 MTHS 9 MTHS
         Interest          2001   2001    2002    2002   2002   2001   2002

ALUMINA
Production
('000 tonnes)
Eurallumina
         56%               127    151     141     139    145   406    425
Queensland
Alumina (a)
         39%               308    368     352     350    342   836    1,043
Rio Tinto total
alumina production         435    519     492     489    487   1,242  1,468

ALUMINIUM
Refined production
('000 tonnes)
Anglesey
         51%               17.4   17.5    18.2    17.2   17.6   53.6   52.9
Bell Bay
         100%              41.3   40.4    40.3    39.9   41.6   120.4  121.8
Boyne Island (b)
         59%               70.6   73.4    67.0    71.0   77.3   204.1  215.2
Tiwai Point
         79%               62.4   65.0    65.6    65.9   65.6   191.2  197.1
Rio Tinto total
aluminium production       191.7  196.3   191.1   193.9  202.0  569.3  587.0

BAUXITE
Production
('000 tonnes)
Boke     4%                175    55      122     121    121    414    364
Weipa          100%        2,680  2,913   2,759   2,738  2,863  8,413  8,359
Rio Tinto total
bauxite production         2,855  2,968   2,881   2,859  2,984  8,827  8,724

BORATES
Borates
('000 tonnes B2O3 content)
Rio Tinto total
borate production
         100%              142    134     130     130    132    430    393

                  Coal
COAL              Type
Australian coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Coal & Allied Industries(c):
Bengalla (d)
         30%       S       312    423    275      493    359    995    1,127
Hunter Valley
Operations
         76%       S       1,914  1,933  1,419    1,831  1,791  4,012  5,040
         76%       M       687    633    767      659    465    2,280  1,892
Mount Thorley
Operations
         61%       S       373    376    362      340     363   997    1,065
         61%       M       403    313    327      295     229   942    852
Moura (d)
         0%        S       208    184    268      139     -     683    407
         0%        M       282    247    323      230     -     833    552
Narama (d)
         0%        S       205    162    135      -       -     627    135
Ravensworth
East (d)
         0%        S       281    332    281      -       -     764    281
Warkworth (d)
         42%       S       584    463    647      570     582   1,607  1,799
         42%       M       21     57     72       75      66    164    213
Pacific Coal:
Blair Athol Coal
         71%       S       2,000  1,329  2,130    1,846   2,407 6,217  6,383
Kestrel Coal
         80%       S       348    185    259      322     274   777    854
         80%       M       572    287    505      501     383   1,367  1,389
Tarong   Coal
         100%      S       1,253  1,333  1,314    1,422   1,254 3,942  3,990

Total Australian coal      9,443  8,256  9,083    8,724   8,172 26,207 25,979

Indonesian coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Kaltim Prima
Coal (e) 50%       S       2,263  2,055  1,938    2,128   2,540 5,751  6,606

US coal operations
('000 tonnes)
Kennecott Energy
Antelope
         100%      S       5,525  6,038  5,335    6,075  6,452  16,306  17,862
Colowyo (f)
         100%      S       1,350  1,271  1,177    1,309  1,229  3,960   3,715
Cordero Rojo
         100%      S       9,676  10,453 9,100    8,990  7,474  28,999  25,564
Decker   50%       S       993    1,133  1,072    1,046  1,196  3,122   3,313
Jacobs Ranch
         100%      S       5,404  7,067  6,869    6,593  7,315  19,545  20,777
Spring Creek
         100%      S       2,185  2,375  2,300    2,007  1,719  6,392   6,026
Total US coal              25,133 28,337 25,853   26,020 25,385 78,324  77,257

Rio Tinto total
coal production            36,839 38,648 36,874   36,872 36,097 110,282 109,842

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.
Key to coal type: S = Steaming/thermal coal, M = Metallurgical/coking coal.
See footnotes on page 6.


                         3Q      4Q      1Q       2Q      3Q    9 MTHS 9 MTHS
        Interest       2001      2001    2002    2002     2002    2001  2002
COPPER
Mine production
('000 tonnes)
Alumbrera
         25%             12.0    12.3    12.8     12.8    11.5  35.6   37.0
Bingham Canyon
         100%            73.1    67.2    62.5     64.3    64.4  245.5  191.2
Escondida
         30%             59.2    53.2    48.7     61.0    47.9  179.2  157.6
Grasberg -
FCX (g)
         15%             22.9    21.2    21.0     26.4    30.0  72.3   77.4
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (g)
         40%             23.0    19.1    28.4     39.1    39.6  75.3   107.1
Neves Corvo
         49%             8.4     10.5    9.0      10.8    8.5   30.2   28.3
Northparkes
         80%             11.4    11.0    9.5      8.4     6.7   33.1   24.6
Palabora (h)
         49%             12.5    11.2    8.6      5.5     6.0   27.2   20.1

Rio Tinto total
mine production          222.7   205.8   200.6    228.3   214.4 698.4  643.3

Refined production
('000 tonnes)
Atlantic Copper (g)
         17%             10.5    10.7    10.3     10.5    10.2  28.4   31.0
Escondida
         30%             11.4    11.4    11.0     11.3    9.3   33.9   31.6
Kennecott Utah Copper
         100%            43.7    67.3    74.9     76.1    68.1  167.0  219.1
Palabora (h)
         49%             9.9     11.0    8.0      10.8    11.3  31.5   30.1
Rio Tinto total
refined production       75.5    100.4   104.2    108.7   99.0  260.8  311.8


DIAMONDS
Production ('000 carats)
Argyle (i)
         100%            8,032   7,929   6,143    8,411   9,013 18,116 23,567
Merlin   100%            13      20      34       22      33    35     90

Rio Tinto
total diamond
production               8,045   7,950   6,177    8,433   9,046 18,151 23,656

GOLD
Mine production ('000 ounces)

Alumbrera
         25%             44      47      51       49     40     121     140
Barneys Canyon
         100%            32      41      27       22     16     99      65
Bingham Canyon
         100%            142     120     125      95     103    472     323
Cortez/Pipeline
         40%             118     118     111      118    101    357     330
Escondida
         30%             7       8       8        12     7      22      27
Grasberg -
FCX (g)
         15%             99      70      52       69     131    317     252
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (g)
         40%             220     199     86       141    208    680     435
Greens Creek
         70%             15      15      17       20     18     46      55
Kelian
         90%             117     110     103      115    158    298     376
Lihir
         16%             29      20      24       25     22     85      71
Morro do Ouro
         51%             23      24      28       30     30     71      88
Northparkes
         80%             7       9       9        8      9      25      26
Peak
         100%            28      25      27       20     30     76      77
Rawhide
         51%             13      12      12       11     9      39      32
Rio Tinto Zimbabwe
         56%             9       8       6        6      5      30      17

Others         -         2       3       2        2      2      7       6

Rio Tinto total
mine production          906     830     687      745    890    2,747   2,322

Refined production
('000 ounces)
Kennecott
Utah Copper
         100%            88      112     127      133    123    277     383


IRON ORE
Production ('000 tonnes)
Channar
         60%             1,622   1,929   1,517   1,446  1,454  4,724   4,417
Corumba
         100%            206     164     104     201    282    478     587
Hamersley
         100%            15,748  15,149  14,653  14,078 15,711 43,679  44,442
Iron Ore Company
of Canada (j)
         56%             2,028   1,841   1,815   2,189   1,296 6,328   5,300
Robe River
         53%             4,607   4,379   4,418   3,686   5,345 11,895  13,448

Rio Tinto
total mine production    24,212  23,462  22,507  21,600 24,087 67,104   68,194

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.
See footnotes on page 6.

                         3Q      4Q      1Q      2Q      3Q     9 MTHS  9 MTHS
      Interest           2001    2001    2002    2002    2002   2001    2002

LEAD
Mine production
('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek
         70%             3.7     3.7     3.7     4.6     3.5    10.6    11.9
Zinkgruvan
         100%            5.8     6.1     4.7     4.9     9.2    18.4    18.7
Rio Tinto
total mine
production               9.5     9.8     8.4     9.5    12.7    29.0    30.6

MOLYBDENUM
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Bingham Canyon
         100%            1.5     1.6     1.7     1.3     1.7    6.5     4.7


NICKEL
Nickel in matte (tonnes)
Fortaleza
         100%            2,989   1,984   2,063   1,290   510    8,186   3,863

Total refined metal production (tonnes)
Rio Tinto
Zimbabwe - Empress
         56%             992     892     943     835     987    2,827   2,765

SALT
Production ('000 tonnes)
Dampier  Salt
         65%             1,007   1,322   1,103   1,085   1,223  2,926   3,411
SILVER
Mine production ('000 ounces)
Bingham Canyon
         100%            1,076   1,042   1,032   924     866    3,433   2,822
Escondida
         30%             227     212     209     244     182    748     635

Grasberg - FCX (g)
         15%             162     141     151     201     233    559     585
Grasberg -
Joint Venture (g)
         40%             178     193     115     193     264    448     572
Greens Creek
         70%             1,814   1,809   1,960   2,029   1,955  5,895   5,943
Zinkgruvan
         100%            326     427     324     302     545    1,069   1,171

Others         -         396     447     401     425    383     1,281   1,209
Rio Tinto total
mine production          4,180   4,272   4,192   4,318  4,427   13,432  12,938

Refined production ('000 ounces)
Kennecott
Utah Copper
         100%            626     765     790     1,104   1,178  2,117   3,072

TALC
Production ('000 tonnes)
Luzenac Group
         99.9%           311     315     322     346     341    952     1,009
TIN
Mine production (tonnes)
Neves Corvo
         49%             192     72      123     36      -      517     159

TITANIUM DIOXIDE FEEDSTOCK
Production
('000 tonnes)
Rio Tinto Iron &
Titanium
         100%            359     341     328     318     309    1,086   955


URANIUM
Production (tonnes U3O8)
Energy Resources
of Australia
               68%       540     790     650     668     773    2,090   2,092
Palabora (h)   49%       4       -       -       -       -      15      -

Rossing        69%       544     462     510     463    580     1,348   1,553

Rio Tinto total
uranium production       1,087   1,252   1,160   1,131   1,353  3,453   3,644

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.

                         3Q      4Q      1Q      2Q      3Q     9 MTHS  9 MTHS
         Interest        2001    2001    2002    2002    2002   2001    2002

ZINC
Mine production ('000 tonnes)
Greens Creek
               70%       10.6    10.5    11.4    12.4    11.1   30.3    34.9
Zinkgruvan
               100%      15.1    16.6    11.1    10.4   13.6    45.2    35.1
Rio Tinto total
mine production          25.7    27.1    22.5    22.8   24.7    75.5    69.9
Refined production ('000 tonnes)
Norzink (k)
               0%        -       -       -       -       -      20.4    -

(a)  Comalco increased its holding in Queensland Alumina Limited from 30.3%to
38.6%, with effect from September 2001.
(b)  Comalco acquired an approximately 5% additional interest in production
from the Boyne Island smelter with effect from August 2002.
(c)  Rio Tinto increased its stake in Coal & Allied from 70.9% to 7during
March 2001 and to 75.7% on 17 September 2002.
(d)  Production data are shown from 29 January 2001, the effective date of
Coal & Allied's acquisition of the Australian coal businesses of the Peabody
Group. Effective on the same date, Coal & Allied acquired an additional 11.8%
interest in the Warkworth mine. On 14 March 2002, Coal & Allied completed the
sale of its interests in Narama and Ravensworth. Coal & Allied sold its
interest in the Moura coal mine with effect from 24 May 2002. Production data
are shown up to the dates of sale.
(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)  Through its interest in Freeport-McMoRan-Copper & Gold (FCX), Rio Tinto
had, as of 30 September 2002, a 15.0% share in the Grasberg mine and a 16.5%
share in Atlantic Copper. Through a joint venture agreement with FCX, Rio
Tinto is entitled, as shown separately in the above tables, to 40% of
additional material mined as a consequence of the expansion of the Grasberg
facilities in 1998.
(h)  In July 2001, Rio Tinto increased its holding in Palabora from 48.6% to
49.2%.
(i)  Rio Tinto's interest in the Argyle Diamond mine increased from 99.8% to
100% on 29 April 2002, following the purchase of the outstanding units in the
Western Australian Diamond Trust.
(j)  During the first half of 2001, Rio Tinto acquired 20.3% of the Labrador
Iron Ore Royalty Income Fund. The Fund has a shareholding in Iron Ore Company
of Canada but this has not been included in the calculation of tonnage
attributable to Rio Tinto.
(k)  Rio Tinto completed the sale of its interest in Norzink on 17 April 2001.

Where  Rio  Tinto's beneficial interest in an operation  has  changed,  as
indicated  above,  the share of production has been calculated  using  the
weighted average interest over the relevant periods.



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