Japan will begin a test mining operation of rare-earth-rich mud from the deep seabed near Minamitori Island, targeting about 350 metric tons of mud per day from roughly 6,000 meters deep between January 11 and February 14, marking the world’s first continuous deep-sea extraction trial.

Global reaction includes concerns from Pacific island nations about ocean protections and regulatory delays for commercial licensing, potentially pushing any full-scale operations toward the 2030s.

Analysts caution that even if extraction succeeds, turning the mud into usable rare-earth supply requires substantial downstream investment in processing, separation chemistry, and magnet production.

The effort is framed as signaling long-horizon investment and the idea that innovation can outpace permitting, processing, and profitability in the rare-earth supply chain.

The project sits within broader international interest in seabed minerals, highlighting potential collaborations and competing national ambitions.

The project, led by the Cabinet Office’s national platform for innovative ocean developments, underscores Japan’s push to bolster maritime and economic security amid China’s export controls on rare earths.

The test will occur within Japan’s exclusive economic zone, with a facility under construction on the eastern edge of the country to access resources deep beneath the ocean surface.

Some U.S. defense players have reportedly avoided Chinese curbs by sourcing from a European samarium stockpile.

Questions remain on environmental, economic, and regulatory fronts, including scalable processing, environmental impact, and viable economics before commercialization.

China’s export restrictions on rare earths have driven the United States to expand domestic mining and diversify supply chains.

Ishii noted a sense of crisis after a Chinese naval fleet appeared near Japan’s EEZ during seabed surveys, underscoring geopolitical tensions surrounding the program.

Program director Shoichi Ishii emphasizes building a domestically produced rare-earth supply chain to stabilize Japan’s industry.