• Jefferies' analysts choose Rio Tinto over its larger peer BHP Group as a metal-facing co in 2025

• Brokerage likes RIO over BHP for its copper and aluminium leverage with lower dilutionary M&A risk

• Remains focussed on copper and aluminium for RIO as it expects iron ore prices to lag, even in recovery stage, on enough supply growth to meet demand

• Expects copper, aluminium and coking coal to outperform in 2025 due to relatively price-inelastic end markets and significant supply constraints

• RIO currently down 0.3% and BHP up 0.6% vs Australian mining sub-index's 0.5% drop

• Iron ore futures hit lowest in more than a month as hot metal output in China slowed [IRONORE/]

(Reporting by Rishav Chatterjee in Bengaluru)