China has resumed shipments of rare earth minerals to Japan after an interruption of more than two months. Japanese Trade Minister Akihiro Ohata said today that two ships containing the minerals have left China for Japan. The shipments were cut off in September during a maritime dispute between the two nations. China has never acknowledged blocking the shipments, which were held up by customs procedures. China currently produces more than 95 percent of the world’s supply of the minerals, which are needed to make high-tech products such as computer components, mobile phones and hybrid cars.