MP Materials Seals New Partnership with Apple
The latest deal marks another development in the race to secure the critical minerals supply chain amid growing pressure from U.S. lawmakers to counter China’s dominance in the sector.
In This Briefing
Just a week after the Department of Defense announced its new partnership with MP Materials, tech giant Apple has followed suit by announcing a $500 million partnership with the U.S.-based rare earth materials company. This brief will also cover other developments including Lockheed Martin’s expressed interest in seabed mining opportunities and how securing the critical mineral supply chain has precipitated advancements in the intersection of technology and mining.
Apple Steps in to Secure U.S. Critical Mineral Supply Chain, Pentagon Forges Ahead
Last Thursday, Valens Global’s Critical Mineral Watch flagged a major development in the domestic critical minerals arena (ICYMI: MP Materials announce public-private deal with DoD). MP Materials signed a major deal with Apple on July 15, 2025, in which Apple will purchase neodymium magnets from MP’s Fort Worth, Texas facility. Other impacts from the latest deal, according to Apple’s press release:
“Apple and MP Materials will build out the state-of-the-art Texas factory with a series of neodymium magnet manufacturing lines specifically designed for Apple products…The increased production will support dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and R&D.”
“The two companies will also work together to establish a cutting-edge rare earth recycling line in Mountain Pass, California…The new recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California will enable MP Materials to take in recycled rare earth feedstock — including material from used electronics and post-industrial scrap — and reprocess it for use in Apple products.”
Read More: Apple expands U.S. supply chain with $500 million commitment to American rare earth magnets - Apple
This week, a defense official spoke to news outlets, affirming that the Pentagon would continue to invest heavily in domestic critical mineral production. According to Reuters, the official stated, “Rebuilding the critical minerals and rare earth magnet sectors of the U.S. industrial base won't happen overnight, but (the Pentagon) is taking immediate action to streamline processes and identify opportunities to strengthen critical minerals production.” They also said that the latest deal with MP Materials contributes to countering China’s dominance in the supply chain.
CNBC reported that the defense official said that the Pentagon has invested $540 million so far “to support critical mineral and rare earth supply chain in the U.S. and allied nations” and will continue “in accordance with congressional appropriations and statutory authorities.”
Reuters: Pentagon to keep investing in US critical minerals projects, defense official says
For Deeper Insights: MP Materials Deal Marks a Significant Shift in US Rare Earths Policy - Columbia University SIPA
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Lockheed Martin holds two Pacific seabed mining licenses awarded in the 1980s but never developed them. The company is now in talks with mining firms interested in accessing and exploiting these undersea mineral deposits, as global demand for critical minerals (used in EV batteries, defense tech, etc.) intensifies. Lockheed’s Chief Operating Officer told the Financial Times, “We are in early stages of conversations with several companies about giving them access to our licenses and allowing them to process those materials.”
Financial Times: Lockheed Martin in talks to develop seabed mines
🚨 Lawmakers Sound the Alarm on Securing the Critical Minerals Supply Chain
These latest partnerships come at a time when U.S. lawmakers are calling for action on critical minerals. House Foreign Affairs East Asia & Pacific Subcommittee Chairwoman Young Kim (CA-40), together with Ranking Member Ami Bera (CA-06) and Rep. James Moylan of Guam, announced the Minerals Security Partnership (MSP) Authorization Act on July 15, 2025. The bipartisan bill seeks to authorize the U.S. Department of State to lead efforts within the MSP—a coalition of 14 countries and the European Union.
In a statement, Rep. Bera said, “The People’s Republic of China (PRC) currently holds a near-monopoly over many of these supply chains and has shown a willingness to weaponize that control…That’s why it is critical that the United States lead efforts like the Minerals Security Partnership to diversify supply chains and strengthen America’s long-term competitiveness.”
The MSP Authorization Act’s announcement followed a House hearing on critical minerals in which former West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin, who currently serves on the board of directors of Ramaco Resources, testified before Congress. The former senator urged lawmakers to act now saying, “We don’t have the capacity to produce or process every mineral in the quantities that we need here in the United States.”
Washington Times: Former Sen. Joe Manchin says U.S. better wake up and reduce rare earth reliance on China
Prior to former Sen. Manchin’s testimony on the Hill, he appeared in Ranchester, Wyoming where Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright cut the ribbon of the country’s first rare earth mine in decades on July 11, 2025. The Brook Mine, operated by Ramaco Resources, will extract rare earth elements directly from coal, offering a dual benefit for energy independence. The mine, Wyoming’s first coal mine in 50 years, could eventually supply 30% of the U.S. Defense Department’s magnet needs, according to Ramaco’s CEO. Secretary Wright told local reporters that the mine’s inauguration aims to break away from China’s dominance in rare earth processing.
Cowboy State Daily: First U.S. Rare Earth Mine In 70 Years Opens In Wyoming
💡 The Intersection of Mining, Technology, and Innovation
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Ocean Exploration and its partners have successfully tested a new autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) called Orpheus, unlocking new insights into deep-sea critical minerals near the Mariana Trench. Orpheus captured images of polymetallic nodules—rich in manganese, nickel, and cobalt—at depths of 5,645 meters, marking the first direct observations in this region. The nodules are necessary for clean energy technologies and strategic mineral supply chains.
NOAA: New Autonomous Vehicle Helps Advance Understanding of the Deep Ocean and its Critical Minerals
The Canadian Government and the Government of the Northwest Territories have launched a pioneering initiative to enhance critical mineral exploration through artificial intelligence (AI) and digital scanning technologies. This project focuses on scanning, digitizing, and analyzing historical drill core samples from the Northwest Territories Geological Survey, aiming to identify new areas rich in critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, and rare earth elements. The initiative centers on the Slave Geological Province, a region known for its significant mineral potential.
Natural Resources Canada: Canada and the Northwest Territories Partner on Innovative, AI-Based Core Scanning Initiative to Support Critical Minerals Development
🌍 The Latest Moves by Other Countries in the Critical Mineral Space
Zimbabwe is teaming up with two major Chinese metals companies to build a $270 million lithium concentrator at the Sandawana mine, with construction set to begin in Q3 2025 and commissioning expected by early 2027. Chinese partners will be closely involved in the building and operation phases for about five years before transferring it over to Zimbabwe’s Kuvimba Mining House.
📌Business Insider Africa: Zimbabwe partners with Chinese firms for construction of landmark $270m lithium plant
India is negotiating with Chile and Peru to secure critical minerals, particularly copper, as part of ongoing free trade agreement (FTA) discussions. Currently, India imports over 90% of its copper concentrate needs, a dependency projected to rise to 97% by 2047. To address this, India plans to include a dedicated copper chapter in the trade talks with these South American nations to ensure a fixed supply of copper concentrate.
📌Reuters: India in talks with Chile, Peru to source critical minerals, source says
Japan is set to commence test mining operations for rare-earth-rich mud from the deep seabed off Minamitori Island, approximately 1,900 kilometers southeast of Tokyo, in January 2026. This government-backed initiative aims to secure a domestic supply of critical minerals essential for national security amid tightening export controls by China, the dominant supplier of rare earths.
📌Mining Weekly: Japan to begin test mining rare-earth mud from seabed in early 2026
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Stillwater Critical Minerals has successfully closed the final tranche of its C$7 million brokered private placement, marking a key milestone in its funding strategy. Funds will support exploration at the Stillwater West Ni-PGE-Cu-Co+Au project in Montana.
Panasonic Energy has officially launched mass production at its new lithium-ion battery factory in De Soto, Kansas—one of the largest EV battery plants in North America. The newly announced factory is the “largest economic development” in Kansas history and is slated to produce “up to 4,000 direct jobs and approximately 8,000 jobs in total.”
Critical Minerals Watch is a Valens Global intelligence product focused on developments in critical minerals, global supply chains, and international security. This edition is part of our public archive. Premium subscribers receive early access, exclusive briefings, and in-depth geopolitical analysis. To learn more about Valens Global, visit our website.