Japan's rare-earth imports from China plunge to 5-year low

72% drop in value for May follows trade curbs by Beijing

A laborer works at a rare-earths mine in eastern China's Nancheng county. Exports of the resources to Japan have fallen from the peak in 2022. © Reuters

YUKA FURUBAYASHI

July 9, 2025 02:05 JST

TOKYO -- Japanese imports of Chinese rare earths, essential for making a slew of advanced products, have fallen to the lowest in more than five years, Nikkei has found, following trade restrictions Beijing imposed on the resources in response to U.S. tariffs.

Japan imported 582.4 million yen ($3.96 million) worth of Chinese rare-earth materials in May, Finance Ministry data shows, down 72.4% from a year earlier.