As we look towards 2027, the seabed minerals industry continues to gain momentum amid a rapidly evolving landscape. New companies are entering the sector while established players advance their projects, technologies, and commercial plans. Governments and stakeholders are weighing the potential of commercial mining against calls for a global moratorium, while the International Seabed Authority (ISA) has yet to finalize its exploitation regulations.

In response, some companies are advancing parallel pathways toward exploitation in international waters under US regulation. The United States is also accelerating domestic efforts, with the first federal lease sales planned for offshore American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, and Alaska in the second half of 2026.

Japan continues to advance its state-led seabed minerals programme after years of exploration and technology development. In early 2026, the country achieved a world first by successfully retrieving rare-earth-rich mud from nearly 6,000 metres near Minami-Torishima Island. Larger-scale trial operations are planned for 2027, while the Nippon Foundation has proposed a polymetallic nodule mining test in the same area.

India and China remain key players. Although India's offshore mineral block auction was annulled in late 2025, authorities may offer new blocks in the future. India recently signed a new ISA contract for polymetallic sulphides in the Indian Ocean. China holds five ISA contracts across the Pacific and Indian Oceans and, in April 2026, released its first comprehensive seabed geochemical atlas of its eastern waters.

These developments highlight key topics we look forward to exploring during the conference, including regulatory divergence, environmental management, exploration strategies, technological advancements, and value chains.