Big Claim Staked in Rare Earths and Magnet Supply Chain
Supply chains critical to AI infrastructure, robotics, drones take root in North Texas
America has sealed the deal for establishing its own end-to-end rare earths and magnet supply chain. MP Materials Corp. just announced the selection of a 120‑acre site in Northlake, Texas, to develop “10X,” the company’s planned large-scale rare earth magnet manufacturing campus. Located near MP’s existing Independence facility in Fort Worth, the new campus, part of Hillwood’s AllianceTexas, will place North Texas at the center of gravity for the U. S.’s rare earth magnet supply chain. The $1.25 billion investment by MP Materials will create more than 1,500 manufacturing and engineering jobs and continue to deepen advanced manufacturing expertise.
Importantly, long‑term commitments have been made from sophisticated end‑users of rare earth magnets, including a long‑term magnet supply agreement with General Motors and collaboration with Apple to build an innovative rare earth recycling and magnet production system. Important for national security, these magnets are inputs for drones, robotics, AI data centers, electrification, and advanced semiconductor fabrication. The light and heavy rare earth raw materials necessary to support 10X will be sourced from MP’s processing facility in Mountain Pass, California. Between Texas and California, a circuit of circularity is to be established, which will also enhance price performance.
In July of 2025, the newly-established Department of War (DOW) embarked on a mission to accelerate domestic rare earth magnet manufacturing capacity. The DOW serves as the offtaker to offer demand certainty for MP Materials. Additionally, on July 15, 2025, Apple had announced a $500 million commitment to MP Materials. In this multiyear deal, Apple committed to buying American-made rare earth magnets developed at MP Materials’ flagship Independence facility in Fort Worth, Texas. MP Materials will have the best of both worlds in this public-private partnership model, both government and business.
The first instance of the upcoming site selection, though not a fully-baked deal, was noted in DCEO’s innovation issue of Jan/Feb 2026: “Meet the Man Running a Modern-day Manhattan Project.” More context is offered.
