MP Materials has entered into a non-binding agreement with Apple Inc. to supply rare earth magnets made entirely from recycled materials for use in Apple products. The magnets will be manufactured at MP’s facility in Fort Worth, Texas, using feedstock processed at its Mountain Pass site in California. The recycled material will be sourced from post-industrial waste and end-of-life magnets.
The partnership, backed by a reported $500 million investment from Apple, aims to reduce reliance on imported rare earths, while supporting the tech giant’s broader sustainability commitments. It also marks a step forward for U.S.-based recycling and rare earth manufacturing infrastructure, as demand for critical minerals intensifies amid clean energy and technology sector growth.
Rare earth magnets—essential components in smartphones, laptops, EVs, wind turbines, and robotics—are a strategic priority for the U.S., which produced 45,000 tonnes of rare earth oxide in 2024 but still imported $170 million worth of rare-earth compounds. The MP-Apple agreement is part of ongoing efforts to reduce this import dependence and strengthen domestic supply chains.
MP Materials CEO James Litinsky said the collaboration would expand the company’s recycling platform and support U.S. industrial capacity. “We are proud to partner with Apple to scale our magnetics business and reinforce America’s supply chain resilience,” he stated.
Apple, which has set a 2030 goal to reduce its Scope 1, 2, and 3 emissions by 75%, plans to use 100% recycled rare earth magnets across all new products by the end of 2025. In 2024, over 80% of rare earths in Apple devices came from certified recycled sources.
The recycled magnets are expected to begin shipping in 2027. Apple and MP have worked together for several years on developing advanced recycling technologies, with MP’s recycled materials having met Apple’s product performance standards.
MP Materials’ Mountain Pass operation is the only U.S. site managing the full rare earth magnet supply chain—from extraction to finished magnet. The company’s expansion into recycling is expected to reduce waste, conserve resources, and help scale rare earth production more sustainably.
Stock market reaction to the partnership has been mixed. MP Materials’ shares surged 20% following the announcement, while Apple’s stock saw only a marginal gain amid broader pressures, including a U.S. antitrust probe and concerns over the company’s AI strategy.
Further details on the agreement, including shipment volumes and timelines, are expected later this year.
