The magnets are manufactured in Fort Worth and are 100% recyclable, the release states. The agreement is supported by a $200 million prepayment from Apple.
Why it matters
The contract with Apple, along with MP Materials’ recent public-private partnership with the U.S. Department of Defense, will greatly expand MP Materials’ operations in Fort Worth, allowing MP Materials to build a series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products, according to the release.
This will lead to a significant increase in magnet production for the facility. The release states magnet shipments are slated to begin in 2027 and collaboration between Apple and MP Materials to enhance processes magnet production will ramp up, as well.
The partnership will create dozens of news jobs and provide extensive training to develop a specialized workforce in magnet production and manufacturing.
“We are proud to partner with Apple to launch MP’s recycling platform and scale up our magnetics business,” James Litinsky, the founder, chairman and CEO of MP Materials, said in the release.“This collaboration deepens our vertical integration, strengthens supply chain resilience and reinforces America’s industrial capacity at a pivotal moment.”
Breaking it down
The magnets for Apple will be manufactured at the Fort Worth plant using materials processed from MP Materials’ Mountain Site Pass site in California. The new site will be constructed by MP Materials to create a dedicated recycling line that takes in magnet scrap and components recovered from end-of-life products and repurpose them for Apple products.
The release states that by reusing rare earth elements from recycled materials, waste will be reduced, natural resources will be conserved and costs for products will be reduced since they will be manufactured domestically.
The backstory
MP Materials is the only fully integrated rare earth producer in the United States, according to its website. Rare earth magnets are used in the manufacturing of smartphones, computers, vehicles, robotics and energy systems.
The company received a $58.5 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy in April 2024 to advance its construction of the magnet manufacturing facility in AllianceTexas, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
On Jan. 22, MP Materials commenced commercial production of neodymium-praseodymium metal, which are rare earth elements used in the production of high-performance permanent magnets, Community Impact previously reported.
The facility also started trial production of automotive-grade, sintered neodymium-iron-boron magnets, which are essential components in vehicles, drones, robotics, electronics and aerospace and defense systems.
