The operation was carried out by the deep-sea drillship Chikyu, which collected the sediment as part of a government-backed testing program aimed at assessing the feasibility of extracting rare earth-bearing mud from the deep ocean.
According to Japan’s Marine Earth Science and Technology Agency, the Chikyu left for Minamitorishima – about 1,200 miles (1,950 kilometers) southeast of Tokyo – last month and arrived at the test site on January 17. The first batch of sediment was recovered on February 1.
“It is a first step toward the industrialization of domestically produced rare earths in Japan,” Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a speech. statement posted on X. “We will work to establish resilient supply chains for rare earths and other critical minerals to avoid over-dependence on any one country.”
Rare earth elements are essential components in powerful magnets used in electric vehicles, wind turbines, electronics and defense systems.
China currently dominates global production and processing of heavy rare earths, giving Beijing significant influence over prices and supply, a vulnerability that is increasingly worrying world governments.
Japan’s latest test comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions in the region. Tokyo has become increasingly concerned about possible supply disruptions after China recently halted exports of certain dual-use goods to Japan.
Although rare earths were not explicitly mentioned, the move raised fears that Beijing could use its control over crucial minerals as leverage.
Japanese researchers first identified rare earth-rich mud deposits around Minamitorishima in the 2010s. Since then, the government has funded research, development and feasibility studies under its Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, with a focus on whether these funds could support a domestic supply chain.
The current trial is intended to test not only the ability to extract sediment from extreme depths, but also the logistics of deep-sea mining.
Officials cautioned that work is still in the early stages. Details such as the concentration of rare earth elements in the recovered mud and overall recovery rates are still being analyzed. To move to commercial production, the entire process would need to be demonstrated, from seabed extraction to separation and refining.
Japan has said it plans to continue testing until mid-February. If the trials are successful, larger scale demonstrations could follow, possibly including the construction of a dedicated processing facility on Minamitorishima later this decade.
The US focuses on securing rare earths with Project Vault
As Japan moves deeper into diversifying its supply of rare earths, developments in the United States underscore how critically critical mineral policies are shaping markets on both sides of the Pacific.
On Monday (Feb. 2), the Trump administration rolled out what officials are calling “Project Vault,” a roughly $12 billion strategic critical minerals reserve aimed at reducing U.S. dependence on Chinese supply chains for rare earths and other essential metals.
The initiative, anchored by a $10 billion loan from the U.S. Export-Import Bank and approximately $2 billion in private capital, aims to stockpile strategic materials such as rare earths, cobalt and lithium used in the defense, EV, technology and energy sectors.
The program’s backers say the reserve will function much like the U.S. Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which will provide a cushion against global supply disruptions and protect manufacturers from price shocks that have battered markets during the recent U.S.-China trade tensions.
Analysts say the effort signals a continued shift toward an industrial policy that treats critical minerals as strategic assets, even as the details of completion and long-term implementation remain uncertain.
The financial markets reacted quickly. Australian rare earth producer Lynas Rare Earths (ASX:LYC,OTCQX:LYSDY) saw its shares rise more than 3 percent (February 3) to close at AU$15.25. This reflects renewed investor interest tied to the policy news and broader rare earths story.
Lynas’ recent moves come against a backdrop of broader gains among non-Chinese mineral producers, as investors reposition around supply chain security and government policy support. Rare earths in general saw a rise in the US market after Trump’s strategic plan came into focus, with producers like MP Materials (NYSE:MP) and USA Rare Earth (NASDAQ:USAR) posting gains on reports of increased government involvement in the extraction of crucial minerals.
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Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, have no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
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