Itochu to introduce critical minerals recycling business in November

July 21, 2026 (MLN): Itochu Corp. will launch a business in November to recover critical minerals from used smartphones and computers for resale, according to sources familiar with the matter, as Japan steps up efforts to strengthen domestic resource recycling.

The initiative comes amid concerns over rare earth supplies following China's export controls and growing demand for semiconductor materials driven by the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence.

To support the project, Itochu's subsidiary Belong Inc. and a major U.S. IT equipment recycler established a 50-50 joint venture in April. The venture is scheduled to begin operating a recycling plant in November at Belong's operations center in Zama, southwest of Tokyo, according to APP.

The facility will manage the full recycling process, including collecting used devices, erasing stored data, shredding the equipment, and separating materials. The recovered minerals will then be supplied to materials manufacturers as raw materials.

Used electronic devices are commonly referred to as "urban mines" because they contain valuable metals that can be recovered and reused in the supply chain.

Japan's latest annual economic and fiscal policy guidelines, introduced under Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, emphasize expanding the recycling of critical minerals to help ensure stable supplies.

Itochu established Belong in 2019. The company purchases used smartphones from businesses and resells them to corporate customers in Japan and overseas through its Nicosuma online store.

The trading house expects demand for used smartphones and device recycling to increase as handset prices continue to rise. Apple Inc. recently increased iPhone prices in Japan.

Copyright Mettis Link News