The S&P/ASX 200 Index (ASX: XJO) gained 2.2% in April, with two of the big three ASX 200 mining shares outperforming those gains and one ending the month in the red.
Turning to the two out-performers first, from market close on 31 March through to the closing bell on 30 April, Rio Tinto Ltd (ASX: RIO) shares gained 3.7% to end the month at $167.40 apiece.
BHP Group Ltd (ASX: BHP) shares enjoyed an even stronger run. BHP closed out April trading for $53.72 a share, up 6.6% for the month.
Fortescue Ltd (ASX: FMG) shares went the other direction, however.
The ASX 200 mining shares slipped 3.3% in April to close the month trading for $19.65.
Over the month, iron ore prices broadly traded in the US$106 to US$108 per tonne range.
Copper prices gained 5% in April, ending the month at US$12,987 per tonne, according to data from Bloomberg.
BHP, Fortescue, and Rio Tinto also all released their March quarter updated in April.
What did the big three ASX 200 mining shares report April?
BHP reported its results on 22 April.
The ASX 200 mining share closed up 1.2% on the day after announcing a 2% year-on-year increase in iron ore production for the nine months to 31 March of 197 million tonnes.
While BHP’s copper production was down 3% year on year to 1.46 million tonnes, the Aussie mining giant reported a 31% increase in its average realised copper price to US$5.47 per pound.
BHP also confirmed that Brandon Craig will take over as CEO from Mike Henry on 1 July.
Turning to Rio Tinto, the ASX 200 mining share released its first quarter production results on 21 April.
Rio Tinto shares closed up 0.8% on the day with the miner achieving a 13% year on year increase in Pilbara iron ore production to 78.8 million tonnes. Rio’s iron ore sales were up by 2%.
Management also reaffirmed Rio Tinto’s full year FY 2026 production and cost guidance across its core operating divisions.
As for Fortescue, the ASX 200 mining share dropped 5.7% on 24 April following its own quarterly update.
Fortescue reported total iron ore shipments of 48.4 million tonnes (Mt), down 4% quarter-on-quarter.
Still, management reaffirmed the miner’s full year FY 2026 guidance for total shipments at 195Mt to 205Mt.
Investors may have reacted unfavourably to a separate green energy announcement from Fortescue. The miner said it will spend US$680 million to accelerate the development of its 200MW Pilbara Green Energy Project. That’s atop Fortescue’s existing US$6.2 billion decarbonisation program.
The post Buying ASX 200 mining shares? Here’s how Rio Tinto, Fortescue and BHP stacked up in April appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.
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More reading
- I’d buy BHP and these ASX 200 shares with $5,000 in May
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- Big gains for BHP shares in April, but is the best still to come?
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- Top 10 ASX shares bought and sold in April
Motley Fool contributor Bernd Struben has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia’s parent company Motley Fool Holdings Inc. has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool Australia has recommended BHP Group. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. This article contains general investment advice only (under AFSL 400691). Authorised by Scott Phillips.