What Is Japan's 'Magic Mud' That Could Challenge China's Rare Earth Grip?

Last Updated:February 05, 2026, 14:19 IST

Japan confirmed the successful recovery of rare earth-rich mud from nearly 6 kms beneath the Pacific Ocean, marking the world's first extraction of its kind at such depths

Samples of terbium and monazite, key minerals in the rare earth industry, were later displayed at a laboratory in Paris for scientific examination. (Reuters)

Japan has announced a breakthrough deep-sea discovery that could significantly weaken China’s dominance over rare earth elements, at a time when global supply chains are under strain and geopolitical tensions are rising.

The Japanese government has confirmed the successful recovery of rare earth-rich mud from nearly 6 kms beneath the Pacific Ocean, marking the world’s first extraction of its kind at such depths. The achievement comes as China tightens export controls on rare earths minerals and dual-use materials, pushing Japan to urgently secure alternative sources vital for advanced manufacturing and clean energy technologies.

According to official disclosures, the research vessel Chikyu departed Tokyo on January 12 and sailed to waters near Minamitorishima, a remote Japanese island roughly 1,900 kilometres southeast of the capital. Recovery operations began on January 30, and on February 1 the Platform for Innovative Ocean Development confirmed the first successful extraction of rare earth-bearing sediment from the seabed.

Preliminary assessments indicate that the recovered mud contains dysprosium and neodymium, both crucial for high-performance magnets used in electric vehicle motors. Other elements identified include gadolinium and terbium, which are widely used in advanced electronics, medical imaging, and defence-related technologies. Samples of terbium and monazite, key minerals in the rare earth industry, were later displayed at a laboratory in Paris for scientific examination.

A spokesperson for Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology said extraction was carried out successfully at three separate locations. Detailed chemical and commercial analysis will be undertaken once the vessel returns to Shimizu port on February 15. Officials stressed that further study is needed to determine the total volume of rare earth reserves and their economic viability.

If no major technical hurdles emerge, Japan plans to begin full-scale marine mining trials in February 2027. Authorities have indicated that a broader expansion of seabed mining could follow, provided the entire process, from extraction to separation and refining, proves feasible and cost-effective.

China currently dominates the global rare earth supply chain and has recently imposed export restrictions affecting Japanese industries amid diplomatic frictions. A Japanese component manufacturer said this week that the curbs have already disrupted operations, prompting a search for alternative suppliers to reduce reliance on Chinese exports.

Under its Strategic Innovation Promotion Program, Japan has been surveying rare earth deposits around Minamitorishima for several years. Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Masanao Ozaki described the successful extraction as a “major achievement" for both economic security and ocean development, while cautioning that industrial-scale production would require further testing and proof of commercial sustainability.

The move also unfolds against a sensitive security backdrop. Japan’s Self-Defence Forces reported last year that Chinese naval vessels had been sighted near Minamitorishima, underscoring the strategic importance of the area amid intensifying regional competition over marine resources.

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