Export quota tender submitted via www.ec.com.cn. 32 companies participated in the tender and each company could submit only one tender. The minimum tender bid was 1,000 tonnes, and the maximum was reckoned according to the average annual amount of export and supply of the company** in 2005-2007: max. 55% of the average annual amount of export for company with at least 3,500 tonnes in 2005-2007, and max. 1,900 tonnes for those with less than 3,500 tonnes. Quota allocation was based on the pricing of the bid. A 10% of the bidding price would be collected before 28.02.2009 as a guarantee.       ** average annual amount of export and supply of the company = actual average annual amount of export + average amount of annual supply x 0.05, and if actual average annual amount of export > average annual amount of supply, equals actual average annual amount of export