Japan deep-sea rare earth mining test begins near Minamitori Island

Japan deep-sea rare earth mining test targets supply security

Japan deep-sea rare earth mining test marks a global first in seabed resource extraction.
Tokyo aims to secure critical minerals amid rising trade and geopolitical tensions.
The government-backed vessel Chikyu began operations near Minamitori Island in the Pacific.
The ship will collect rare-earth-rich mud from depths reaching four miles.

Meanwhile, officials want to reduce reliance on Chinese rare earth supplies.
China controls much of the global rare earth processing market today.
As a result, Japan seeks domestic alternatives to stabilize supply chains.

Strategic drivers behind the Japan deep-sea rare earth mining test

The Japan deep-sea rare earth mining test responds to recent Chinese export controls.
Beijing recently restricted shipments of several critical minerals to Japan.
These moves increased concerns across Japan’s automotive and battery sectors.

However, Japan has faced similar pressure before.
In 2010, China limited rare earth exports after an East China Sea incident.
Since then, Japan cut dependence to about 60% from 90%.
Trading house Sojitz partnered with Lynas Rare Earths in Australia to diversify supply.

Project timeline, costs, and processing plans

The Minamitori Island project represents Japan’s first domestic rare earth sourcing effort.
Economist Takahide Kiuchi of Nomura Research Institute supports local production strategies.
The government has set no production target yet.

If tests succeed, Japan will launch a full demonstration by February 2027.
The operation will lift daily seabed material volumes onto the vessel.
Crews will ship the mud to Minamitorishima for seawater removal.
Processing will reduce volume by 80% before mainland refining.

The government has spent about ¥40 billion since 2018.
Program director Shoichi Ishii confirmed funding under the Strategic Innovation Promotion Program.
Chinese naval activity near the site has raised security concerns.

SuperMetalPrice Commentary:

Japan deep-sea rare earth mining test signals a strategic shift in critical mineral policy.
The project highlights how geopolitics reshapes commodity investment decisions.
If Japan succeeds, other nations may pursue seabed resources aggressively.
However, costs, processing complexity, and environmental scrutiny will challenge scalability.
SuperMetalPrice expects deep-sea mining to influence long-term rare earth pricing dynamics.