rio tinto plc said annual ironore shipments from its australian mining operations fell by 3 in 2021 as projects were disrupted by a worker shortage and supply chain issues but said shipments will likely increase this year the worlds no 2 mining company by market value said 3216 million metric tons of iron ore were shipped from its operations in remote northwest australia last year fourthquarter shipments were down 5 yearoveryear at 841 million tons the miner said rio tinto reported challenges during the year at growth and socalled brownfield mine replacement projects which were impacted by pandemicrelated restrictions that made it hard to get workers rio tinto also said it faced supply chain quality issues the latter has been exacerbated by an inability to conduct predelivery quality assurance and control at international steel and equipment manufacturers due to limitations on travel rio tinto said the miner said its ironore shipments from australias pilbara region would likely rise in 2022 projecting exports of between 320 million and 335 million tons rio tinto also said it produced 7 less mined copper in 2021 versus 2020 at 494000 tons the company projected output of 500000575000 tons this year the miner also produced 1 less aluminum yearoveryear at 315 million tons it estimated 2022 aluminum production of 31 million32 million tons