🧲 Driving the news
MP Materials has announced a landmark $500 million partnership with Apple to produce and supply rare earth magnets made entirely from recycled materials in the United States. The company shared the update via X, formerly Twitter and a formal press release on Tuesday.
Under the agreement, magnets will be produced at MP’s Fort Worth facility—named “Independence”—using recycled feedstock from its Mountain Pass site in California. The production feedstock will come from both post-industrial and end-of-life magnets.
📍 Why it matters
This deal marks a major step in securing a domestic supply chain for rare earth magnets—critical components used in electronics, EVs, robotics, and defense technology. It comes shortly after MP’s recent partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense aimed at restoring America’s industrial capacity for rare earths.
🏗️ What’s next
MP Materials will construct a commercial-scale recycling line at Mountain Pass and significantly expand its Fort Worth facility to fulfill Apple’s demand. Magnet shipments are expected to begin in 2027 and ramp up to support “hundreds of millions” of Apple devices.
💬 What they’re saying
🌱 Between the lines
The recycling technology behind this project was developed through a five-year technical collaboration between MP and Apple. The process converts recovered magnets into new materials that meet Apple’s rigorous performance and design standards—underscoring the tech giant’s push for environmental sustainability and supply chain transparency.
🔄 Zoom out
Rare earth magnets are integral to devices like smartphones, computers, and wearables. By shifting to recycled, domestically produced inputs, Apple and MP aim to reduce waste, lower reliance on foreign imports, and build a secure, sustainable rare earth ecosystem inside the U.S.
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