Japan to Begin World-First Deep-Sea Rare Earth Mud Extraction in 2026

Japan announced that starting January 2026, it will launch the world’s first commercial-scale trial to extract rare earth–rich mud from a depth of ~6,000 meters in waters near Minami-Torishima.

The project will use Japan’s deep-sea research vessel Chikyu, deploying long riser pipes to lift rare-earth-bearing sediment directly from the seabed—an unprecedented technical challenge now moving from research into execution.

According to official estimates, Japan’s EEZ around Minami-Torishima may contain over 16 million tons of rare earth oxides, enough to support domestic demand for hundreds of years, particularly for critical elements such as neodymium and dysprosium, which are essential for EV motors, wind turbines, and advanced electronics.