Japan Confirms Heavy Rare Earths in Deep-Sea Mud Off Minami-Torishima, Advancing Push to Reduce China Reliance

Japan has confirmed the presence of medium and heavy rare earth elements in mud recovered from the deep Pacific seabed off Minamitorishima, backing a strategy to reduce reliance on China. Government analysis found these elements make up about 54% of total rare-earth content, though officials said exact quantities and deposit size remain under review due to limited sampling. Japan plans a larger month-long mining trial starting in February 2027, targeting about 350 tons of mud per day, followed by processing and separation/refining tests on the mainland.