Feb 10 -- Global miner Rio Tinto Ltd reported its results for the 2010 calendar year with a near 10 billion U.S. dollars jump in earnings after the Australian share market closed on Thursday.



Rio Tinto said net earnings for the 12 months to Dec. 31 were 14.324 billion U.S. dollars, up 194 percent from 4.872 billion U.S. dollars in 2009.



Underlying earnings jumped 122 percent to a record 13.987 billion U.S. dollars, up from 6.298 billion U.S. dollars previously.



Underlying earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) were also a record, up 82 percent at 25.978 billion U.S. dollars.



Another record was set with cashflows from operations, up 70 percent at 23.5 billion U.S. dollars.



"The effect of price movements on all major commodities in 2010 was to increase underlying earnings by 9,505 million U.S. dollars compared with 2009," Rio Tinto said.



"Prices improved for nearly all of Rio Tinto's major commodities - copper prices were up 47 percent, molybdenum prices were up 45 percent, gold prices were up 26 percent and aluminum prices were 31 percent higher than 2009," the giant miner said.



"2010 saw continuing strength in the seaborne market for Australian coal," the company said.



"Demand for thermal coal continued to be robust from South Korea, India, Taiwan and China."



"Global steel demand improved in all markets throughout the year and led to strong demand for semi-soft coking coal," Rio Tinto said.



Chairman Jan du Plessis said the record results reflected a combination of strong commodity markets, first class assets and excellent operational performance at projects managed by Rio Tinto.



"We are in a significant growth phase and have multiple opportunities to pursue," du Plessis said.



"Our strategy remains the same and our strengthened balance sheet means we are in a good position to deliver on this."



He said the company's confidence in its assets and positive view of future commodity demand growth had allowed it to increase its annual dividend by 20 percent.



A final dividend of 63 U.S. cents per share lifted total dividends for 2010 to 1.08 U.S. dollars per share.



(Source:Xinhua)