Doing business with us

We are a fully integrated primary aluminium producer, supplying bauxite, alumina and aluminium. The bauxite we produce feeds our alumina refineries. Most of our refineries' output goes to our smelters. The balance is placed in the traded alumina market.

Our smelters supply diverse downstream manufacturing customers with primary aluminium. We work closely with our customers to meet their needs. We constantly seek to improve our product quality and delivery performance. We also continue to initiate projects that deliver social, economic and environmental benefits.

More information about our products

We source a diverse range of goods, materials and services to sustain our operations. That is why safe, efficient and innovative suppliers and contractors play a critical role in our success.

Please note that Rio Tinto Canada Management Inc. and Rio Tinto Alcan in Montreal are currently undergoing a business transformation programme entailing the implementation of Rio Tinto's global integrated management system called the Rio Tinto Business Solution, which is based on the SAP suite of applications.

Beginning on October 3, 2011, all Rio Tinto and Rio Tinto Alcan departments based in Montreal will start using the Rio Tinto Business Solution for procuring and paying for goods and services. This business transformation will affect the way we deal with our suppliers in general.

The deployment of the Business Solution in Montreal will be the first of a series of deployments across Rio Tinto Alcan global operations to be completed over the next two years. If you are offering goods and/or services to plants or business entities of Rio Tinto Alcan outside of Montreal, you should continue to follow the same existing processes in your dealings with these entities, until further notice.

We are committed to ensuring that this transformation is completed with minimal impacts to our business partners and suppliers. Should you have any questions or concerns, please read our RTBS fact sheet for an overview of the changes that are likely to affect suppliers servicing our Montreal office, or get in touch with your Rio Tinto Procurement contact.

Our procurement activities are coordinated through Rio Tinto Procurement. This ensures a fair evaluation and selection process is applied consistently to all prospective suppliers.

Rio Tinto Procurement's systems are based on appropriate methods of competition among qualified suppliers of goods and services. They also ensure the intellectual property of suppliers is protected.

Suppliers are chosen on the basis of:

• Ability to meet our stated needs and required standards
• Health, safety and environmental considerations
• Quality and service
• Competitive pricing
• Technical capabilities
• Consistency with our values

We encourage you to visit and register on the Rio Tinto Procurement website. You will find pertinent information relating to the supply of goods, materials and services to us.