China is turning the raw material screw, Japan is responding with a daring deep-sea project: off Minamitori, a research ship wants to fetch rare earths from a depth of 6,000 meters
China is sending a clear message: Beijing is restricting exports that can be used for both military and civil purposes – this could also include rare earths, according to the New York Times. These metals are indispensable for many key technologies – they are used, among other things, in electric cars, smartphones and rockets. Their economic importance is correspondingly great.
This is a sensitive issue for Japan. Back in 2010, China temporarily stopped deliveries of rare earths to Tokyo – in the middle of a dispute over islands in the East China Sea. This hit Japan’s industry hard and continues to have an impact today.
Research ship “Chikyu” sets off on a unique deep-sea mission
Now Japan is responding with a major project on the high seas. The research vessel “Chikyu” has set off for a remote coral atoll near Minamitori, around 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo, according to “Reuters”. There, at a depth of around 6,000 meters, there is mud on the seabed that is rich in rare earths.
The mission is expected to last around a month and has 130 people on board. It is the first attempt in the world to continuously pump this mud from such a depth to the surface.
Project manager Shoichi Ishii says: “After seven years of constant preparation, we can finally begin the confirmation tests. It is deeply moving,” according to “Reuters”. If the project succeeds, it could be an important step towards broadening Japan’s supply of raw materials.
Japan’s industry is vulnerable – despite all precautions
Japan has done a lot in the past 15 years to become less dependent on China. The share of Chinese rare earths in Japanese imports has fallen from 90 to around 60 to 70 percent, according to the New York Times. The government and companies have also set up stockpiles, although they do not provide exact quantities.
Nevertheless, the dependency remains high. Analysts warn, according to “Reuters”, that Japan is almost entirely dependent on China, especially for heavy rare earths, which are needed for electric motors in electric and hybrid cars.
The Nomura Research Institute estimates that a three-month ban on exports from China would cause production losses in Japan of around $4.3 billion – and even around $17 billion over a year, according to the New York Times.
Deep sea mud as a bet on the future
Since 2018, Japan has invested around 40 billion yen, or around $250 million, into the Minamitori deep-sea project. It is still unclear exactly how large the deposits are. If the current tests are successful, a larger dismantling attempt will begin in 2027, according to Reuters.
