Japan, India forge rare metal, mineral, recycling partnership in Delhi

INDIA – Japan and India have held their first joint government event focused on recycling critical minerals, including rare earths, at the Japanese Embassy in New Delhi, as both countries seek to reduce dependence on China’s dominant supply chains.

About 130 participants, including government officials and recycling business operators, took part in the event, which included panel discussions and presentations. 

The embassy co-hosted the event with Japan’s Environment Ministry, with participating companies given opportunities to connect with each other. 

India is the world’s third-largest emitter of electronic waste from discarded devices, presenting a significant opportunity for resource recovery. 

Critical Minerals and E-Waste Recycling Opportunity

The global market for critical minerals, including rare earths, is dominated by China, making it necessary for both Japan and India to rely heavily on imports. 

Joji Murakami, head of an Indian unit of Honda Trading, stated that Honda uses rare earth minerals in parts for motors, and the Honda group is looking for Indian partners involved in recycling in an attempt to break away from Chinese supply chains. 

Japan and India aim to tap the resources that are not utilized in large quantities to reduce their dependence on China. 

The event marks a significant step in bilateral cooperation on resource security and circular economy development. 

Rare earth elements are essential for manufacturing high-tech products including electric vehicles, wind turbines, smartphones and defence equipment, making their secure supply a strategic priority for both nations.

Strategic Importance and Future Collaboration

The collaboration comes as both countries face increasing pressure to secure stable supplies of critical minerals for electronics, electric vehicles and renewable energy technologies. 

India’s growing e-waste stream, combined with Japan’s advanced recycling technologies, creates a natural partnership for recovering valuable materials from discarded devices. 

The event included panel discussions and presentations from government officials and recycling business operators. 

The embassy co-hosted the event with Japan’s Environment Ministry, with participating companies given opportunities to connect with each other. 

The initiative aligns with both countries’ broader strategies to build resilient supply chains and reduce strategic dependencies on single-source suppliers. 

India’s electronics and automotive sectors are expanding rapidly, generating increasing volumes of e-waste that contain valuable rare earth elements. 

The partnership between Japan and India on critical mineral recycling could serve as a model for other countries seeking to reduce their dependence on China for these strategic materials, supporting the development of circular economy approaches to critical mineral supply chains.

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