China

Apple, MP Materials Sign $500M Rare Earth Magnet Supply Deal

JUL 16 2025·Updated JUL 17 2025

Story

Above: The Mountain Pass mine, operated by MP Materials, in California, on June 7, 2019. Image credit: Joe Buglewicz/Bloomberg/Getty Images

The Facts

Apple on Tuesday announced a $500 million commitment with MP Materials — the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the U.S. — to purchase American-made rare earth magnets from the company's Fort Worth, Texas, facility starting in 2027.
Apple Newsroom
Reuters
The partnership includes establishing a rare earth recycling line in Mountain Pass, California, that will process recycled rare earth materials from used electronics and post-industrial scrap for reuse in Apple products.
Supply Chain Dive
MacDailyNews
New York Post
MP Materials will expand its Texas factory with neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products. The increased production is expected to create new jobs in advanced manufacturing and research and development.
Investors
Yahoo! News
New York Post
The deal is part of Apple's broader pledge to spend more than $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years, building on the company's stated commitment to American innovation and advanced manufacturing technologies.
NBC Los Angeles
Forbes
Following the announcement, MP Materials stock surged approximately 20% to close at an all-time high of $58.23, while Apple shares remained relatively stable with marginal gains throughout the trading day.
FOX News
CNBC
Forbes
Apple and MP Materials have been collaborating on advanced recycling technology for nearly five years. Apple pioneered the use of recycled rare earth elements in consumer electronics, starting with the iPhone 11's Taptic Engine in 2019.
Verge
MacDailyNews

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The Spin

Pro-establishment narrative

This partnership is a strategic win for American manufacturing, strengthening the nation's technological independence while reducing reliance on foreign supply chains, especially from China. The deal reflects the effectiveness of President Donald Trump's tariffs, pushing companies to invest in American jobs and secure critical resources domestically — helping to reduce China's grip on rare earths.

Fortune

Establishment-critical narrative

This deal is a direct result of China curbing rare-earth exports in response to Trump's reckless tariffs. While Apple tries to spin this as a win for U.S. manufacturing, it's clear this would never have happened without Beijing's retaliatory actions. This deal is more about Apple trying to avoid future disruptions — costing consumers more — than any genuine commitment to securing production.

The Register