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Japan

Japan is an island nation in East Asia, comprising four main islands and thousands of smaller ones, with its capital in Tokyo. The country has a population of about 125 million and ranks as the world's third-largest economy by nominal gross domestic product. Japan's economy is highly industrialised and export-oriented, with dominant sectors including automotive manufacturing, electronics, robotics, steel, chemicals and precision machinery. The currency is the yen, and the government operates as a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system. Japan is resource-poor and imports the vast majority of its energy, metals and raw materials, making secure supply chains and trade relationships central to economic policy. Major trading partners include China, the United States, South Korea and countries across South-East Asia. The nation is a member of the Group of Seven, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the World Trade Organization and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum. Japan's industrial base is supported by advanced technology, a skilled workforce and a culture of continuous improvement, though it faces demographic headwinds from an ageing population and low birth rate. The country is a leading importer of liquefied natural gas, coal, iron ore and non-ferrous metals, including aluminium, to feed its manufacturing sector. Since the Second World War, Japan has rebuilt into a global economic power, pioneering lean production methods and high-quality consumer goods that have shaped international markets.

Japan News


Rare earth oxides
China rare earth firms halt some US shipments over geopolitical worries, sources say
4th September 2026 By: Reuters

Some Chinese rare earth suppliers are declining to ship to the US for fear of repercussions from Beijing, three sources said, underscoring how access to the materials remains an issue for the US... 


New technology installed at Dunlop Tyres South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal operation
Dunlop completes R1.7bn upgrade of KwaZulu-Natal tyre manufacturing facility
28th August 2026 By: Schalk Burger

Tyre producer Dunlop Tyres South Africa has completed a R1.7-billion investment programme at its uMnambithi (formerly Ladysmith) manufacturing facility, in KwaZulu-Natal. The investment introduced... 


Government and corporate officials break ground at Alcoa's new gallium plant
Alcoa breaks ground at new gallium plant in Australia
24th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

NYSE- and ASX-listed Alcoa Corporation has broken ground at its gallium production plant, in Western Australia, with prominent government officials such as Australian Minister for Industry and... 


White Mesa Mill, in Utah
US rare earths producer Energy Fuels' terbium meets Japanese magnet maker qualification
19th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

TSX-listed, US-based rare earths producer Energy Fuels' terbium oxide has successfully passed all qualifications for use by one of the world's largest manufacturers of permanent magnets, in Japan.... 


Sareco facility
Lindian acquires full control of MREC facility in Kazakhstan
11th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Lindian Resources has announced the strategic full acquisition of the Sareco mixed rare earths carbonate (MREC) hydrometallurgical processing facility, in Kazakhstan, increasing its... 


Image of critical minerals in hand
Copi critical minerals project, Australia
7th August 2026 By: Sheila Barradas

RZ Resources Limited's Copi project will produce titanium minerals, including rutile, leucoxene and ilmenite, premium zircon and rare-earth elements, including monazite and xenotime.  


El Teniente copper mine
Japanese tech company investigates remote operation feasibility for Codelco's El Teniente mine
6th August 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

Japanese telecommunications and information technology company NTT Docomo Business has launched a study and proof of concept jointly with Chile's State-owned copper miner Codelco to progress remote... 


Rare earth oxides
Japan's Jogmec to invest up to $34m in Toyota Tsusho rare earth venture in Namibia
30th July 2026 By: Reuters

Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security and Toyota Tsusho said on Thursday that the former will invest up to C$47.7-million ($33.9-million) in a Toyota Tsusho unit developing a heavy rare... 


Kumba Iron Ore CEO Mpumi Zikalala.
South African iron-ore quality among strongest of seaborne market, Kumba reports
28th July 2026 By: Martin Creamer

The quality of iron-ore from the Northern Cape is continuing to differentiate South Africa in the global iron-ore market. During the first half of this year, the average realised export price of... 


The Vittangi graphite mine in Sweden
Talga, Hanwa Co sign nonbinging LoI over possible Sweden anode material offtake
27th July 2026 By: Creamer Media Reporter

Battery materials company Talga Group has signed a nonbinding letter of intent (LoI) with Japanese trading and industrial materials company Hanwa Co regarding a potential offtake and strategic... 


Chikyu vessel
Japan identifies large share of rare earths in deep-sea mud off remote island
24th July 2026 By: Reuters

An analysis of rare earth-rich mud retrieved from the deep seabed off a remote Pacific Island earlier this year found medium and heavy rare earth elements accounted for about 54% of the total rare... 


US flag
Trump imposes forced labor duties on 60 trading partners as 10% US tariffs expire
24th July 2026 By: Reuters

The Trump administration on Friday imposed new tariffs of 10% and 12.5% on goods from 60 trading partners, including the European Union and China, over allegations of lax enforcement of forced... 


Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
US imposes new 25% tariffs on Brazil, expands exemptions list
17th July 2026 By: Reuters

The US will hit Brazil with new 25% duties on its furniture, ethanol, machinery, footwear, sugar and other goods such as pig iron and mining equipment, launching a new wave of tariffs that could... 


Strait of Hormuz
Global energy security at risk if Strait of Hormuz does not open in weeks, IEA chief says
17th July 2026 By: Reuters

If the US and Iran do not increase oil flowing through the Strait of Hormuz soon, the world should worry about energy security, International Energy Agency (IEA) executive director Fatih Birol said... 


Gallium
Alcoa greenlights Australia gallium plant with US, Japan and domestic backing
15th July 2026 By: Reuters

Bauxite and aluminium producer Alcoa Corporation said on Tuesday it has reached a final investment decision to set up a gallium plant at its Wagerup alumina refinery in Western Australia, with... 


Japan’s Marubeni acquires TiAuto
10th July 2026 By: Irma Venter

Japan-based trading and investment company Marubeni Corporation has acquired South African automotive retail and services group TiAuto Investments. Founded in 1967, TiAuto is an automotive... 


An image of Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems’ Green Screw Oil lubricant
Plant-based lubricant reduces environmental impact
10th July 2026

Industrial machinery manufacturer Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems’ (HIES’) recently launched plant-based Green Screw Oil lubricant, developed for oil-flooded screw air compressors, delivers... 


Rare earths
Victory Metals ships heavy rare earth concentrate samples to potential offtake partners
9th July 2026 By: Marleny Arnoldi

ASX-listed Victory Metals has successfully dispatched heavy rare earth concentrate to potential offtake partners in Australia, Japan and the US for independent product examination. The company... 


A generic image of gold bars
First-half gold ETF flows remained positive – World Gold Council
8th July 2026 By: Lumkile Nkomfe

Industry body the World Gold Council reports that global investors have continued to reduce their exposure to physically backed gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in June, but inflows for the first... 


McArthur coal mine
Coking coal miners caught between India's surging demand and Australia's taxes
8th July 2026 By: Reuters

Miners of coking coal in top exporter Australia face the dilemma of balancing expectations of strong demand growth from top buyer India against a royalty tax system they view as rapacious and... 


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pqt: 0.222s - ct: 0.285s - 275pq - 2rq
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