Apple has announced a $500 million multiyear commitment with MP Materials to expand its domestic supply chain for rare earth magnets, a move aimed at boosting U.S. manufacturing, creating jobs, and reinforcing Apple’s long-term investment in American innovation.
Under the agreement, Apple will source rare earth magnets manufactured at MP Materials’ new facility in Fort Worth, Texas, and collaborate with the company to build a rare earth recycling plant in Mountain Pass, California.
The new partnership centers around MP Materials’ flagship Independence facility in Texas, where Apple and MP will develop advanced neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products. Once operational, the plant will significantly boost MP’s production capabilities, with magnets being shipped across the U.S. and globally to meet increasing demand.
This expansion is expected to support dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and research and development. Both companies are also committed to workforce development, providing extensive training programs to build a new pool of U.S. talent and expertise in rare earth magnet manufacturing.
Apple’s investment is part of its broader pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the United States over the next four years. This initiative builds on the company’s ongoing efforts to support American industry, supply chain resilience, and advanced recycling technologies.
Strategic Investment in Critical Materials
Rare earth elements are essential components in advanced technology. Apple uses magnets made with these materials in nearly all its devices. By securing a domestic supply of rare earth magnets, Apple is strengthening its supply chain while supporting the U.S. rare earth industry’s ability to produce and recycle these vital resources.
Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook stated that this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States.
The collaboration also includes the development of new magnet materials and processing technologies aimed at improving magnet performance, a step toward next-generation material science and product design.
Closing the Loop with U.S.-Based Recycling
The second major component of the deal is the creation of a cutting-edge recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California. The facility will process recycled rare earth feedstock, including material from used electronics and post-industrial scrap, and turn it into high-quality magnets for Apple’s supply chain.
Apple and MP Materials have been piloting this advanced recycling technology for nearly five years. The process allows recycled magnets to meet Apple’s high standards for design and performance. This facility is expected to enhance Apple’s efforts to recover materials at the end of their lifecycle and reduce reliance on newly mined resources.
Building on a Legacy of Environmental Progress
Apple pioneered the use of recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics, first introducing them in the Taptic Engine of the iPhone 11 in 2019. Today, nearly all magnets across Apple devices are made using 100 percent recycled rare earth elements.
The company’s collaboration with MP Materials will ensure a secure and sustainable domestic supply of rare earths, support the U.S. economy, and accelerate environmental progress through innovation in material recovery.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri.
