Rio Tinto is expected to have improved its annual earnings in 2013, but that is not a major achievement given the global miner's $3 billion loss in the previous year.
Stronger than expected demand and steel production in China drove the average iron ore price up to $US135 a tonne in 2013, a positive for the world's second largest iron ore producer.
The company also stripped $US2 billion in costs from its business in 2013, setting it up to post a 4.5 per cent lift in full year underlying earnings to $US9.72 billion, according to consensus forecasts from analysts.
However an uncertain year looms in 2014.
The iron ore price has already fallen to seven month lows of $US120 a tonne, with massive volumes of new supply out of Australia and Brazil pointing to continued downward pressure and an expected further fall in the price.
Deutsche Bank analyst Paul Young has forecast writedowns of up to $US5 billion, mostly in Rio Tinto's aluminium business.
The company's 2012 loss was due to $14.4 billion worth of writedowns in the value of its aluminium and coal businesses.
But Mr Young said the writedowns he expects in 2014 were all non-cash one-offs and "as such will be largely ignored by the market".
Chief executive Sam Walsh's comments on the future of the Chinese economy, and demand for iron ore, will also be closely watched.
Analysts expect a lift in Rio Tinto's dividend to $US1.81 a share, from $US1.67.
Rio is due to release its full year 2013 results on Thursday afternoon AEDT.
