Central Asia Metals (CAML) announced that, thanks to improved operational efficiencies, its copper and zinc production for the first five months of 2026 both surpassed the same period last year. Copper output from the Kounrad operation in Kazakhstan totalled 5,141 tonnes, a near 4% increase over the last year. Meanwhile, the Sasa mine in North Macedonia produced 7,566 tonnes of zinc in concentrate, up over 2% compared to last year. In terms of pricing, the company reported significantly higher realized metal prices during the period. The average price of copper reached $13,076 per tonnes, representing a massive jump of nearly 40% over the last year, while average zinc prices rose 19% to $3,299 per tonne. In addition, historically low treatment charges for lead, which have turned negative, further boosted Sasa’s revenues. CEO Gavin Ferrar noted that the group is shaping up to deliver strong profitability and cash generation in the first half of 2026. Currently, the company is actively pushing forward with its acquisition of Australia's Cygnus Metals, announced last week, to expand its footprint into a high-grade copper-gold project in Quebec, Canada. The company remains highly confident in meeting its full-year production guidance (12,000–13,000 tonnes of copper, 18,000–20,000 tonnes of zinc concentrates, and 26,000–28,000 tonnes of lead concentrates).

On May 29, Nexa Resources said its Cajamarquilla zinc smelter in Peru is gradually resuming production following the incident reported on May 13. the electrolysis lines are now fully operational, while one casting line has been back in operation and is currently producing zinc bars. Nexa plans to restart the second casting line within the next few days, followed by the final casting line by mid-June. As a result of the temporary disruption, Nexa estimates a refined zinc production impact of approximately 7,000 mt in Q2 2026, equivalent to around 2% of annual production. The company expects to recover the lost output during H2 2026 and has kept its 2026 sales guidance unchanged. No material financial impact's expected from the incident, with the cause remain under investigation.

As mid-year approaches, financial reports of major listed overseas mining companies for the first quarter have all been released. A combination of earthquakes, falling ore grades, floods and other disruptions has hampered global mine operations, driving down overseas zinc concentrate output both year-on-year and quarter-on-quarter in Q1 2026.

[Kaz Mineral Disclosed Q1 2026 Production]Recently, Kaz Mineral disclosed its Q1 2026 production.Zinc in concentrate output of 10.4 kt was lower quarter-on-quarter, primarily reflecting reduced processing volumes at the East Region following planned maintenance at the Nikolayevsky concentrator in January.

[Zinc Concentrates Production Information] Gold Resource disclosed its Q1 2026 production. Its zinc metal content production was 1,143 mt during the quarter. Total ore processed during the quarter was 74,444 mt, an increase of 31% compared to the same period in 2025. Gold and silver production increased by 126% and 54%, respectively. Copper, lead, and zinc production also increased by 39%, 36%, and 64%, respectively.

[No Significant Production Cuts at Smelters in May; Zinc Concentrate TCs Continued to Decline]: Based on weekly data, the SMM Zn50 domestic weekly average TC fell 150 yuan/mt Zn WoW to 700 yuan/mt Zn, and the SMM imported zinc concentrate index dropped $6.5/dmt WoW to -$45.75/dmt.

During the May Day holiday in 2026, LME zinc traded in a general sideways range, finding solid support at the 40-day moving average. In terms of specific performance, LME zinc showed an N-shaped trend of rising first, then falling and rebounding again.

SMM Analysis: Maintenance Recovery & Falling Zinc TC Shape May Refined Lead Output Outlook SMM May 1 News: In April 2026, China's refined lead production continued its modest upward trend, rising 1.22% month-on-month and 3.01% year-on-year.

[Zhongjin Lingnan's 2025 Annual Report Released] On April 22, Zhongjin Lingnan released its 2025 annual report. In 2025, the company's mining enterprises produced 253,800 mt of lead-zinc metal content in concentrates, down 4.21% YoY, and 10,255 mt of copper metal content in concentrates, down 14.23% YoY. The company's smelters produced 917,900 mt of copper, lead, and zinc products, up 5.33% YoY, including copper cathode (477,200 mt, up 10.54% YoY) and lead-zinc products (440,700 mt, up 0.22% YoY). In 2026, the company plans to produce 266,400 mt of lead-zinc metal content in concentrates, including lead metal content (73,200 mt) and zinc metal content (193,200 mt), as well as 442,800 mt of lead-zinc products, including lead ingots (124,100 mt) and zinc ingots and zinc products (318,700 mt)

Vietnam’s mining group Vinacomin reported production of copper concentrate at around 9,200 tonnes and zinc output at around 1,100 tonnes in the latest reporting period, according to its update for the first two months of 2026. The group also contributed VND 4.44 trillion (approximately USD 169.5 million) to the state budget over the same period.