China Tuesday announced the first batch of 2012 export quotas for minor metals and silver, lowring the quotas for silver, antimony ingots, tin and tin product, and indium and its products.

The Ministry of Commerce said in a statement that silver exports will be kept under 3,232 metric tons next year, while the quota for antimony ingots is 7,128 tons.

The quota has been set at 10,800 tons for tin and products and 139,000 tons for indium and its products , the ministry said in a statement on its website.