Japan retrieves rare earth-rich mud from 6,000 metres under the sea

Japan has successfully retrieved rare earth-rich mud from 6,000 meters beneath the sea in a test mission. The government aims to analyze the sample to determine its rare earth content. This initiative is part of a decade-long plan to extract rare earths from the deep seabed, accelerated by Japan's desire to reduce its dependence on China for these valuable minerals. A state-owned vessel is scheduled to return to port this month to prepare for seabed mud extraction tests near a coral atoll 2,000km from Tokyo, planned for as early as February 2027. The project is driven by economic security concerns and the need for Japan to secure its own supply chain of rare earths.

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