US-based rare earth producer MP Materials has entered into a definitive, long-term agreement with tech giant Apple to supply US-manufactured, sustainable rare earth magnets.
These magnets will be produced using 100% recycled materials in a significant step in both companies’ commitment to sustainable and domestic supply chains.
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The magnets will be sourced from MP Materials’ Fort Worth, Texas facility, known as Independence, using recycled rare earth feedstock processed at its Mountain Pass site in California.
MP Materials founder, chairman and CEO James Litinsky stated: “We are proud to partner with Apple to launch MP’s recycling platform and scale up our magnetics business.
“This collaboration deepens our vertical integration, strengthens supply chain resilience, and reinforces America’s industrial capacity at a pivotal moment.”
Since 2020, Apple and MP Materials have been developing advanced recycling technology to produce recycled rare earth magnets that meet Apple’s stringent performance and design criteria.
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By GlobalDataAs a result of this collaboration, MP Materials will establish a commercial-scale, dedicated recycling line at the Mountain Pass facility to process a variety of materials, including magnet scrap and components from end-of-life products to be used as feedstock.
To meet the terms of the agreement with Apple and its partnership with the US Department of Defense (DoD), MP Materials will increase the capacity of its Fort Worth magnetics facility to establish neodymium magnet production lines tailored for Apple products.
The advanced equipment and technical capabilities will enable MP Materials to significantly increase its overall output.
Apple became one of the first tech companies to secure a supply agreement after China curbed exports in early 2025.
Apple will prepay MP Materials $200m for shipment of magnets to begin in 2027, as reported by Reuters.
The two companies will work together to drive technological advancements in magnet production and the recovery of materials at the end of a product’s life.
Apple CEO Tim Cook stated: “American innovation drives everything we do at Apple, and we’re proud to deepen our investment in the US economy. Rare earth materials are essential for making advanced technology, and this partnership will help strengthen the supply of these vital materials here in the United States. “We couldn’t be more excited about the future of American manufacturing, and we will continue to invest in the ingenuity, creativity and innovative spirit of the American people.”
