Rio Tinto said iron ore shipments from its Australian mining operations are likely to be at the lower end of guidance following disruptions from four cyclones during the first quarter of the year.

Rio Tinto Group’s first-quarter iron ore shipments fell 9% from the year before to a six-year low, after tropical cyclones disrupted exports from its key Australian terminal.

The series of tropical cyclones in the first quarter had snarled activities at the Dampier port in the Pilbara region and affected Rio Tinto's shipments. The company had earlier warned of total losses of 13 million metric tons of iron ore due to inclement weather.