Baotou Steel Rare-Earth (Group) Hi-Tech Co. failed to make the first batch of rare earth producers to receive export permission from China's Ministry of Commerce in 2012.

The MOC announced the list that included 11 other qualified producers, CNSTOCK.com reported Friday.

According to sources with knowledge of the situation, Baotou Steel, the country's biggest producer of the valuable minerals, was not included due to environmental concerns.

The company said the monazite resources it has exploited are radioactive. But it refused to give further comments.

The Inner Mongolia Province-based rare earth producer is still waiting for a review for its exporter status, the sources said.

The company has so far not submitted documents for environmental assessment, said an official from the country's Ministry of Environmental Protection.

China's business press carried the story above on Friday.