Mining giant Rio Tinto has reported a big jump in profits due to strong demand in Asia and charging higher prices for its products.
The company made $US7.6 billion in the six months to June, an increase of 30% on the same period a year earlier and its best first-half result ever.
Rio Tinto chief executive Tom Albanese says he expects the higher than average growth to continue but warns debt problems in Europe and the United States pose risks to commodity markets.
The company says it is continuing to rapidly expand its operations, with capital expenditure of $A4.8 billion, much of it going towards an expansion of its Pilbara iron ore production to 283 million tonnes a year, the ABC reports.
