In a draft proposal, Malaysian authorities set a monthly export target of 600,000 tons of bauxite, a move aimed at promoting bauxite mining operations and export standardization in the eastern state of Pahang.

The Ministry of Water, Land and Natural Resources of Malaysia stated in a draft on Sunday that the Kuantan Port Authority had set export quotas for the ore. Most of Malaysian bauxite exports passed through the port.

According to the draft proposal, the export level has taken into account various aspects such as cleanliness and the environment.

Malaysia was once China's biggest supplier of bauxite. At the end of 2015, bauxite imports from Malaysia approached 3.5 million tons monthly. Bauxite is the world's main source of aluminum.