Commitments and contingencies

6 Months Ended

Jun. 30, 2026

11. Commitments and contingenciesContingent liabilities, indemnities and other performance guarantees represent the potential

outflow of funds from the Group for the satisfaction of obligations, including those under

contractual arrangements (eg undertakings related to supplier agreements) not provided for on the

balance sheet, where the likelihood of the contingent liabilities, guarantees or indemnities being

called is assessed as possible rather than probable or remote.

Disclosure is made for material contingent liabilities unless the possibility of any loss arising is

considered remote based on our judgement and legal advice. These are quantified unless, in our

judgement, the amount cannot be reliably estimated. The unit of account for claims is the matter

taken as a whole and therefore when a provision has been recorded for the best estimate of the

cost to settle the obligation there is no further contingent liability component. This means that

when a provision is recognised for the best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the

present obligation from a single past event, a further contingent liability is not reported for the

maximum potential exposure in excess of that already provided.

We have not established provisions for certain additional legal claims in cases where we have

assessed that a payment is either not probable or cannot be reliably estimated. A number of our

companies are, and will likely continue to be, subject to various legal proceedings and

investigations that arise from time to time. As a result, the Group may become subject to

substantial liabilities that could affect our business, financial position and reputation. Litigation is

inherently unpredictable and large judgments may at times occur. The Group may in the future

incur judgments or enter into settlements of claims that could lead to material cash outflows. We

do not believe that any of these proceedings will have a materially adverse effect on our financial

position.

Contingent liabilities - subsidiaries, joint operations, joint ventures and associates

Contingent liabilities, indemnities and other performance guarantees were US$338 million at

30 June 2026 (31 December 2025: US$322 million).

There were no material contingent liabilities arising in relation to the Group’s joint ventures and

associates.

Contingent liabilities - not quantifiable

The current status of contingent liabilities where it is not practicable to provide a reliable estimate

of possible financial exposure is:

Litigation disputes


Litigation matter	Latest update
2011 Contractual payments in Guinea	In 2023, we resolved a previously self-disclosed investigation by the SEC into certain contractual payments totalling US$10.5 million made to a consultant who had provided advisory services in 2011, relating to the Simandou project in the Republic of Guinea. In August 2023, the UK Serious Fraud Office closed its case and announced that the Australian Federal Police maintains a live investigation into the matter. Rio Tinto continues to co-operate fully with relevant authorities. At 30 June 2026, the outcome of this investigation remains uncertain, but it could ultimately expose the Group to material financial cost. No provision has been recognised for the investigation. We believe this case is unwarranted and will defend the allegation vigorously.

11. Commitments and contingenciesOther contingent liabilities

We continue to modernise agreements with Traditional Owners. Where appropriate, provisions

have been recognised within “Other provisions” based on our current best estimate of the past

financial component. This process remains ongoing, and estimates may be refined in future

periods as additional information becomes available. Future impacts arising from agreement

modernisation will be recognised as incurred.

Close-down, restoration and environmental provisions are not recognised for those operations that

have no known restrictions on their lives as the date of closure cannot be reliably estimated. This

applies primarily to our Canadian aluminium smelters, which are not dependent upon a specific

orebody and have access to indefinite-lived power from owned hydropower stations with water

rights permitted by local governments. In these instances, a closure obligation may exist at the

reporting date. However, due to the indefinite nature of asset lives, it is not possible to arrive at a

sufficiently reliable estimate for the purposes of recognising a provision. Close-down, restoration

and environmental provisions are recognised at these operations for separately identifiable

closure activities which can be reasonably estimated, such as the demolition and removal of fixed

structures after a predetermined period. Any contingent liability for these assets will crystallise into

a closure provision if and when a decision is taken to cease operations.

Capital commitments

Our capital commitments include:

–open purchase orders for managed operations and non-managed tolling entities.

–expenditure on major projects already authorised by our Investment Committee for non-

managed operations.

Our capital commitments do not include those relating to lease obligations.

The capital commitments for Simandou are reported on a 100% basis for the SimFer mine and the

SimFer scope of infrastructure as managed operations. The Group’s share of EAU capital

commitments reported in relation to WCS Rail and Port Holding Entities represents SimFer Jersey

Limited’s 34% funding of those EAUs, inclusive of funding due from non-controlling interests.

Capital commitments, excluding the Group's share of joint venture capital commitments, were

US$7,495 million (31 December 2025: US$8,173 million).

The Group's share of joint venture capital commitments was US$656 million at 30 June 2026

(31 December 2025: US$737 million).