Exports of rare earths by the world's stronghold of the precious gem, China, will remain relatively unchanged for 2013.

The China Daily reported middle this week that Chinese rare earths exports will remain at 30,996 tonnes for the current year despite actual exports registered to have been low this year.

In the nine months to October 2012, according to data from the China Customs Statistics Information Center, the Asian country only exported a total of 9,967 metric tonnes of rare earths, which actually is just one-third of the 2012 quota.

Liu Yinan, vice-chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals and Chemicals Importers and Exporters, told China Daily the low numbers were caused by the global fiscal crisis which has weakened appetite from major importers located in Japan and the United States.

Mr Liu likewise blamed the rising prices which forced a great number of manufacturers dependent on rare earths to switch to other materials or pursue other rare earths markets.

Volume of rare earths exports in 2011 fell 11.5 per cent over the year 2010. Valued at $702 million, it was a fall of 61.5 per cent, value-wise. Chinese rare earths sector project exports this year will hit 12,000 tonnes, which actually corresponds to a 10-year low.

During the 2003 peak, Chinese exports of rare earths reached a whopping 70,000 tonnes. In 2011, only 16,900 tonnes of rare earths, 17 elements needed to manufacture various high-tech products, were exported.