Archive · 23 Dec 2025
Japan Plans Deep-Sea Mining for Rare Earths by 2027
Japan wants to get special metals called rare earths from the bottom of the ocean.
These metals are important for making cars.
Right now, China controls most of these metals, but Japan wants to get them from the sea to be less dependent on China.
They plan to start testing this in 2026 and will build a special place on a small island to help with this.
Japan has already reduced its dependence on China for these metals by a third since 2010.
They are spending a lot of money to make this plan work.
Japan plans to extract rare earth elements from deep-sea mud by 2027 to reduce dependence on China.
The project will involve extracting sea-mud 6,000 meters below the surface and processing it on Minamitorishima.
Japan has reduced its dependence on China for rare earths by a third since 2010.
China controls around 70% of global rare earth supplies and 90% of refining capabilities.
Japan has allocated 16.4 billion yen ($105 million) for the deep-sea mining project.
- Who
- Japan
- What
- Plans to extract rare earth elements from deep-sea mud
- When
- Full-scale demonstration by February 2027
- Where
- Seabed 6,000 meters below surface, processed on Minamitorishima
- Why
- To reduce dependence on China for rare earth supplies
- Country
- Japan
- Target Elements
- Rare earths (e.g., dysprosium)
- Location
- Seabed 6,000 meters below surface
- Processing Site
- Minamitorishima, Ogasawara Islands
- Budget
- 16.4 billion yen ($105 million)
- Timeline
- Full-scale demonstration by February 2027
- Current Dependence on China
- Reduced by a third since 2010
- Global Control by China
- 70% of supplies, 90% refining capabilities