Japan Extracts 50 Tons of Rare Earth Mud from 6,000-Meter Depth Near Minamitorishima on July 24

According to media reports, Japan's Prime Minister Takayaki Takaichi announced on July 24 that the country successfully extracted approximately 50 tons of rare earth mud from the seabed around Minamitorishima Island at a depth of about 6,000 meters. The sample contains roughly 30% yttrium (Yttrium), a critical element used in semiconductors, automotive components, and high-tech manufacturing. Japan aims to reduce reliance on specific countries for rare earth supplies, particularly amid China's recent export controls on medium and heavy rare earths.

However, according to analysis by Liu Dehai, a professor at National Chengchi University's Department of Diplomacy, Japan's commercial-scale production remains at least two years away, with full operationalization not expected until 2028. This timeline means the deep-sea initiative cannot address immediate supply chain pressures faced by Japanese industries in semiconductors, military equipment, and automotive sectors.