India, Japan explore rare earth workaround amid China curbs

India’s top business houses, including JSW Group, Adani Group, Reliance Industries Ltd, and Vedanta, met a high-level Japanese industry delegation in New Delhi and Mumbai this week to explore partnerships in the battery supply chain and critical minerals, Mint reported.

Executives from both sides agreed that collaboration is essential to support India’s ambitions in electric vehicles, renewable energy, and advanced electronics, while reducing reliance on Chinese inputs and technology.

The Japanese delegation comprised around 30 companies from the Battery Association of Supply Chain, including Panasonic, Nichia, Asahi Kasei, and Sumitomo Metal & Mining.

The meetings focused on addressing supply chain vulnerabilities and identifying opportunities for joint efforts to overcome bottlenecks.

JSW Group, which is building a domestic battery plant targeting 20 GWh annual capacity in its first phase by 2025–27 and expanding further by 2032, is actively seeking Japanese technology and supply partners.

The group has also taken a minority stake in the Indian arm of China’s MG Motor as part of its automotive sector expansion.

Reliance Industries and Vedanta are similarly stepping up their battery manufacturing plans, scouting international technology collaborations and sites for new plants.

The meetings come as the global rare earths crunch intensifies, underscoring India’s push to localize critical supply chains and deepen cross-border industrial cooperation.