{
  "id": 2455970,
  "title": "China's Rare-Earth Magnet Exports to Japan Halve in July",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/chinas-rare-earth-magnet-exports-to-japan-halve-in-july",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-08-21T23:45:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "News On Japan",
    "slug": "news-on-japan",
    "url": "https://newsonjapan.com/article/150467.php"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "China's exports of rare-earth magnets to Japan plummeted by more than half in July compared to the same period last year, reaching 111 tons. This represents a 52.2% decrease, marking the steepest year-on-year drop since June 2025, signalling a significant slowdown in the market. Rare-earth magnets play a crucial role in electric vehicles, home appliances, and various other products. Globally, China's exports of rare-earth magnets declined by 3.6% in July compared to a year ago. Meanwhile, exports of tungsten carbide, a vital material for processing automobile parts and other products, remained at zero for the sixth consecutive month. Typhoon No. 18, forecast to intensify into a very strong storm, is approaching Okinawa, posing the risk of violent winds and rough seas. On August 21, Japan executed death row inmate Sunao Takami for a 2009 pachinko parlor fire in Osaka, marking the first execution under the Takaichi administration. Japan's government is considering abolishing the Cool Japan Fund, a public-private investment vehicle aimed at expanding Japanese culture overseas, due to its substantial losses. Four workers were killed when struck by a train while clearing vegetation at Shin-Kanuma Station, prompting an investigation. Shinkansen service to Shikoku is set to make substantial progress, with travel times from Osaka to cities like Tokushima, Takamatsu, and Matsuyama potentially reduced to around 90 minutes. Japan's core consumer price index rose by 1.8% in July, reflecting accelerating inflation driven by higher food prices and energy costs, despite a decline in rice prices. Mitsubishi Electric announced the acquisition of U.S.-based PCI Energy Solutions, a software developer for energy trading, in a deal worth approximately 220 billion yen, marking the largest acquisition in the company's history. Tokyo stocks rebounded on August 20, closing at 66,216.79 points, up 1.36%, buoyed by U.S. equities and South Korean semiconductor shares, as well as reduced global bond market stress. The Japanese labor ministry plans to revise overtime guidelines from September 1, focusing on employer measures to protect worker health. Whistleblowers in Japan who expose corporate misconduct are increasingly facing multimillion-yen lawsuits, prompting questions about legal protections for those reporting misconduct. Small businesses in Japan, from tech startups to traditional enterprises, are increasingly targeted by sophisticated digital scams. Catalog House, operator of shopping catalog magazine Tsuhan Seikatsu, will stop selling through Rakuten Market in protest over its partnership with a German military drone company and plans to support Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force.",
  "summary": "China's exports of rare-earth magnets to Japan fell by more than half in July from a year earlier, while shipments of tungsten carbide remained at zero for a sixth consecutive month, according to trade data released by Chinese customs authorities. (News On Japan)",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}