British company Central Asia Metals Plc (CAML) earned $80.8 million from the Kounrad copper mine in the Karaganda region in the first half of 2026. The Kazakh asset remains the group's main source of profit, providing more than half of its total revenue, reports infohub.kz.
According to the company's financial report, which was highlighted by the Telegram channel Finmentor.kz, amid high metal prices and increased production, CAML's total revenue rose by 46% to $145.5 million, while pre-tax profit tripled (up 203%) to $59.3 million.
The Kounrad mine produced 6,304 tonnes of copper over six months. The average selling price of the metal increased by 39% to $13,171 per tonne. The company's second operating asset, the Sasa zinc-lead mine in North Macedonia, increased revenue from $46.5 million to $64.7 million. Zinc production in concentrate at the Macedonian site rose by 5% (to 9,094 tonnes), and lead by 6% (to 13,312 tonnes).
In parallel, CAML is advancing its exploration efforts. In Kazakhstan, the company completed initial drilling programs at the Yuzhnoye and Otyar sites and secured an option on a new license in the Tengiz Basin, where it plans to drill in 2026-2027. The group also controls an 80% stake in its subsidiary CAML Exploration, which conducts exploration in the republic.
It is also noted that abroad, the British holding intends to finance a new phase of the Arthrath project in Scotland and increase its stake in Aberdeen Minerals from 32.6% to 38.9%. Additionally, CAML is preparing to acquire Canadian Cygnus Metals, which owns the Chibougamau copper-gold project, for A$232 million. The deal is expected to close in early October.
Furthermore, Central Asia Metals Plc owns a plant for processing pregnant leach solution and producing copper cathode, named Kounrad. The facility, located near Balkhash, was built in 2010-2012. Its products are mainly exported to Turkey.
In total, the Kounrad plant has produced over 165,000 tonnes of copper cathodes. With a minimum remaining recoverable copper volume of about 85,000 tonnes, the plant has every opportunity to continue copper production until 2034, according to the company's website.