Japan’s Sojitz Eyes Southeast Asia for New Rare Earths Supply

Japanese trading house Sojitz Corp. is looking to Southeast Asia and other regions as new potential sources of rare earths outside Australia, as it aims to boost output and diversify its supply chain of the highly sought-after materials.

“Areas connected to southern China such as Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam will be potential regions that the company will look into,” Chief Financial Officer Makoto Shibuya told Bloomberg News this week. The company will also consider India and other countries if suitable rare earths investment opportunities exist there, he added.