Apple and MP Materials Forge $500M Deal for Sustainable Rare Earth Magnets

Picture Credit: asia.nikkei.com

Apple and MP Materials have announced a $500 million, long-term partnership to supply 100% recycled rare earth magnets for Apple devices, marking a major step toward circular manufacturing. Under the agreement, MP Materials will produce the magnets at its Fort Worth, Texas facility using recycled rare earth feedstock processed in Mountain Pass, California. This move significantly strengthens the U.S. domestic supply chain for critical materials.

The recycled materials will come from post-industrial and end-of-life magnets, supporting Apple’s ambition to establish a fully circular supply chain. For nearly five years, Apple and MP have collaborated to develop recycling technologies that meet Apple’s stringent performance and design requirements. This partnership will now scale with the construction of a commercial recycling line at Mountain Pass, allowing MP to process scrap magnets and components from discarded products.

Shipments of the recycled magnets are expected to begin in 2027 and will eventually support hundreds of millions of Apple devices annually. To meet this demand and fulfill additional commitments, including a public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, MP will expand production at its Fort Worth plant.

Picture Credit: reuters.com

The collaboration is not only focused on supply but also on innovation. Apple and MP Materials will co-develop technologies to improve both the manufacturing process and the recovery of magnets from end-of-life electronics.

Rare earth magnets are essential in modern technologies, from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and energy systems. By sourcing these materials domestically and sustainably, Apple and MP are setting a new global standard for environmental responsibility in high-tech manufacturing—reducing waste, conserving resources, and reinforcing American industrial resilience.