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.
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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.
