The 10-container, 250t shipment will leave the port next month following export clearance.

Symbol officials said the shipment comes just one month after the processing plan commissioning was completed. With that milestone met, it is achieving an exported monthly throughput capacity of 10,000t.

"Mining is progressing above expectations and there has been very positive signs with processing head grade achieving…expectations," the miner said.

CEO Tim Wither added that the inaugural shipment, along with delivering under such a short start-up period, marks a ‘great achievement' for it and the Imperial joint venture team.

"Although a modest maiden shipment, ramp up to a steady state should come with relative ease as the mine deepens into more consistent high-grade material and the processing and logistic channels stabilise," he said, adding that it will be turning its focus to restarting its exploration programme.

Also on the miner's agenda in the coming months: a continued ramp-up of processing operations at Macy. Symbol, which is now finalising an off-take deal with Noble Resources International for free-on-board sales, has set its monthly production target from the operation at 4,500t of high-grade DSO zinc and separate lead saleable product.