Japan to Test Deep-Sea Rare-Earth Mud Mining

Japan will conduct a pilot operation to lift rare-earth–rich mud from the deep seabed off Minamitori Island from January 11 to February 14.
The test, conducted by a government-backed program, aims to be the first continuous retrieval of mud from roughly 6,000 meters to a surface vessel and will verify the system's capacity to transfer about 350 metric tons per day.
The exercise will focus on connecting and operating the deep-sea mining system while monitoring environmental impacts both on board and on the seabed.
No commercial production target has been set; if the test succeeds, a full-scale trial is planned for February 2027.
The national project has spent roughly 40 billion yen since 2018, though estimated reserves have not been disclosed. Officials describe the effort as part of a broader push to secure domestic supply chains for critical minerals as global reliance on China for rare earths grows and export controls tighten.
Separately, program officials said a Chinese naval fleet entered waters within Japan's exclusive economic zone during prior seabed surveys in June, prompting diplomatic exchanges in which China described its activity as lawful and urged restraint in rhetoric.