Japan pulls mud with rare earths from 19,000 feet deep to challenge China’s stronghold
Sujita Sinha
Japan has taken a new step toward securing critical minerals from the ocean floor. On Monday, the Japanese government announced that sediment containing rare earth elements was successfully retrieved in a ‘world-first operation’ from a depth of about 19,700 feet (6,000 metres) during a recent test mission.

The operation marks a fresh push to reduce Japan’s heavy dependence on China for minerals essential to modern technology and national security.

Government officials said the sample was brought up from deep waters during a state-backed expedition and will now undergo detailed analysis.

“Details will be analyzed, including exactly how much rare earth is contained” in the sample, government spokesman Kei Sato said, calling it “a meaningful achievement both in terms of economic security and comprehensive maritime development”.

Deep-sea test signals strategic shift
The test recovery comes as Japan accelerates a plan first launched more than a decade ago to mine rare earths from the deep seabed. The effort has gained urgency as geopolitical tensions have highlighted the risks of relying on a single dominant supplier.

A state-owned research vessel is expected to return to port later this month after installing specialized equipment beneath Japanese waters near Minamitori Island. The remote coral atoll lies about 1,243 miles east of Tokyo and marks Japan’s easternmost territory. According to the government agency overseeing the project, the system is designed to lift metal-bearing mud from depths of 16,400 to 19,700 feet.

If the setup performs as expected, test extraction of seabed mud could begin as early as February 2027. Around 385 tons of sediment per day would be brought to the surface for examination to determine which rare-earth elements are present and at what concentrations.


Supply chain pressure drives urgency
Rare-earth elements are vital components in smartphones, electric vehicles, wind turbines, and advanced weapons systems. China currently dominates global production and processing, making the minerals a powerful geopolitical tool.

Tensions have increased in recent years. China used its control over rare earth exports as leverage during last year’s trade dispute with the United States. More recently, Beijing banned exports to Japan of certain products intended for military use, further straining relations.

Despite years of effort to diversify supply, Japan remains heavily reliant on China, importing roughly 70 percent of its rare earths from there. The country has invested in overseas projects, including financial backing for Australia’s Lynas Rare Earths and support for a separation facility in France, but officials say those measures are not enough.

“It’s about economic security,” said Shoichi Ishii, programme director for Japan’s National Platform for Innovative Ocean Developments. “The country needs to secure a supply chain of rare earths. However expensive they may be, the industry needs them.”

Costs and technical barriers remain high
Even with a successful test, deep-sea mining faces major hurdles. Large-scale commercial extraction of metals from the seabed has never been achieved anywhere in the world. The challenges include extreme pressure, darkness, complex machinery, and high operating costs.

Experts caution that any promising discovery would still take years to develop. “Sucking up mud below the surface, miles down in the dark with tremendous pressure, has the hallmark of outsize operating costs that will need consistent government support even if it’s feasible technically,” said David Abraham, an affiliate professor at Boise State University.

Japan’s project differs from some international efforts because it lies within national waters, thereby avoiding legal uncertainty under international seabed rules. Still, environmental safeguards and logistics will be closely watched.

Long-term outlook and cautious optimism
Japan has experience exploring seabed minerals. The country began ocean mineral research in the late 1970s following cobalt supply disruptions. In 2020, the Japan Organisation for Metals and Energy Security successfully tested excavation of a cobalt-rich crust on the seabed.

The rare earth initiative itself began in 2014 and has progressed through multiple phases before the current voyage, which departed from Shizuoka port in January. Analysts say market conditions support continued testing, but expectations should remain measured.

“At best, it will emerge as a niche supply stream,” said James Tekune, a research associate at Adamas Intelligence. For Japanese officials, however, commercial uncertainty is secondary to securing long-term access to materials critical for the nation’s industry and security.