Guangdong zinc: Futures center moves higher, spot market remains quiet [SMM midday comment]

The McIlvenna Bay copper-zinc project in Saskatchewan, Canada, has reached significant operational milestones. Project operator Eldorado Gold reported that the mine produced its first copper concentrate in June 2026 and first zinc concentrate in July 2026. The operation is currently ramping up and is on track to achieve commercial production in Q3 2026. For the full year 2026, zinc output is projected at 3,000 to 6,000 tonnes (alongside 5 to 10 million lbs of copper). Over its estimated 18-year life of mine, McIlvenna Bay is projected to deliver average annual production of 54 million lbs of zinc (approx. 24,500 tonnes) and 41 million lbs of copper (approx. 18,600 tonnes). Eldorado Gold is currently evaluating a mill capacity expansion from 4,900 tonnes per day to 7,000 tonnes per day, alongside the addition of a silver-lead recovery circuit. The successful ramp-up of McIlvenna Bay introduces fresh concentrate supply to North American and global markets, helping ease tightness in global base metal concentrate supply.