Today, Apple announced a $500 million commitment with MP Materials, the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States. This multiyear deal involves Apple purchasing American-made rare earth magnets developed at MP Materials’ Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The partnership also aims to establish a recycling line for rare earth materials in Mountain Pass, California, and develop new magnet materials and processing technologies.
This initiative is part of Apple’s pledge to invest over $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years. “American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we’re proud to deepen our investment in the U.S. economy,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. He added that this partnership would strengthen the supply of essential materials for advanced technology within the United States.
Apple and MP Materials plan to build a state-of-the-art factory in Texas with neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products. This development will boost MP Materials’ production capacity significantly. The American-made magnets will be distributed nationwide and globally to meet increasing demand.
The increased production is expected to create new jobs in advanced manufacturing and research and development. Both companies will provide extensive training to develop a skilled workforce in magnet manufacturing.
The new recycling facility in Mountain Pass will enable MP Materials to process recycled rare earth feedstock from used electronics and post-industrial scrap for use in Apple products. For nearly five years, both companies have been piloting advanced recycling technology that meets Apple’s standards for performance and design.
Apple pioneered using recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics with the iPhone 11’s Taptic Engine in 2019. Today, almost all magnets across Apple devices are made with 100 percent recycled rare earth elements. The collaboration with MP Materials aims to secure domestic supply of these critical materials, enhance U.S. industry capabilities, and advance environmental progress through innovative recycling methods.
