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苹果投入5亿美元采购美国稀土磁体,预防中国供应中断

财富中文网 2025-07-17 20:03:37

苹果投入5亿美元采购美国稀土磁体,预防中国供应中断
2025年6月16日,纽约市,蒂姆·库克参加电影《F1》的全球首映礼。图片来源:Dimitrios Kambouris—Getty Images

苹果公司刚刚宣布与MP材料公司(MP Materials)达成一项5亿美元合作协议。MP材料公司是美国唯一一家完全整合的稀土生产商。这项为期多年的协议包括2亿美元的预付款。根据协议,苹果将从MP位于得克萨斯州沃斯堡的新生产线采购美国本土制造的稀土磁体,并合作在加利福尼亚州帕斯山建设一座最先进的回收设施。

此次合作使MP的股价在本周二上午飙升23%。它不仅标志着苹果供应链策略的转变,更预示企业界正在采取更广泛的地缘政治风险对冲措施。

打造本土磁体制造中心

该协议的核心是苹果承诺采购在MP材料公司得克萨斯州工厂生产的钕磁体。钕磁体是全球应用最广泛的稀土磁体类型,对iPhone、Mac和AirPods至关重要。该协议将为建设符合苹果需求的先进生产线提供资金,首批磁体预计将于2027年交付。

苹果在新闻稿中表示,通过向苹果供货,MP材料公司的得克萨斯工厂将成为全球稀土市场的重要枢纽,并支持“在先进制造和研发领域新增数十个工作岗位”。

作为协议的一部分,苹果和MP还将在加州启动一条专用的回收生产线,旨在处理来自废旧电子产品和工业废料的稀土材料。该设施将帮助苹果实现其设备中100%使用再生稀土元素的目标。该公司已在其产品线几乎所有磁体上实现了这一里程碑式目标。

目前尚不清楚苹果通过此项合作预计将直接和间接创造多少工作岗位,哪些类型的职位将被优先考虑,以及苹果和MP材料公司将启动或依靠哪些开发或培训项目来推动制造业务。苹果公司未立即回应《财富》杂志的置评请求。

避免中国的影响

在苹果与MP材料公司的这一合作举措出台之际,稀土市场正面临日益加剧的地缘政治冲击。据《纽约时报》报道,中国目前控制着全球90%以上的稀土磁体生产和精炼产能,这使其成为全球技术供应链的一个关键瓶颈,这使得人们担心在贸易紧张时期可能会出现出口限制或价格波动的情况。

通过大力投资本土生产和回收,苹果实质上是在预先构筑其供应链的防线,抢在下一次全球性供应中断发生之前,主动确保关键零部件的供应途径。

苹果与MP材料公司(该公司近期也获得了美国国防部的资金支持)的这笔交易被广泛视为一项战略性对冲措施,旨在防范未来可能威胁中国稀土稳定供应的贸易限制、关税或外交冲突。而且从原材料开采、回收利用直至最终组装,此举也深化了苹果对其零部件供应链全流程的控制力。

苹果更广泛的美国产业战略

这项稀土计划与苹果宏大的5,000亿美元美国投资计划相契合,该计划包括在半导体、AI基础设施和劳动力发展方面的重大支出。苹果近期的项目包括:

• 在得克萨斯州休斯顿新建一座AI服务器制造工厂,为苹果下一代“Apple Intelligence”平台提供支持。

• 扩大国内芯片生产和供应商培训学院,旨在构建一个由美国本土技术人才和制造合作伙伴组成的强大生态系统。

• 预计未来四年内在研发、硅工程和先进制造领域为美国新增20,000个工作岗位。

核心要点

通过投资本土稀土生产和回收,苹果正积极防范地缘政治冲击。通过这笔交易,苹果还能推进其环保目标,这在一定程度上增强了其在消费者和投资者中的品牌形象。但与此同时,作为特朗普长期要求硅谷进行的投资,这笔交易倍受关注,符合特朗普政府推动制造业回流、创造美国就业机会以及减少对外国(尤其是中国)供应链依赖的政策方向。特朗普的关税威胁似乎正在产生影响。(*)

Fortune Intelligence使用生成式人工智能来帮助撰写初稿,从而更快地为您带来突发商业新闻,同时保持我们高标准的准确性和质量。这些故事由《财富》杂志的高级商业编辑进行编辑,以在发布前验证信息的准确性。

译者:刘进龙

审校:汪皓

苹果公司刚刚宣布与MP材料公司(MP Materials)达成一项5亿美元合作协议。MP材料公司是美国唯一一家完全整合的稀土生产商。这项为期多年的协议包括2亿美元的预付款。根据协议,苹果将从MP位于得克萨斯州沃斯堡的新生产线采购美国本土制造的稀土磁体,并合作在加利福尼亚州帕斯山建设一座最先进的回收设施。

此次合作使MP的股价在本周二上午飙升23%。它不仅标志着苹果供应链策略的转变,更预示企业界正在采取更广泛的地缘政治风险对冲措施。

打造本土磁体制造中心

该协议的核心是苹果承诺采购在MP材料公司得克萨斯州工厂生产的钕磁体。钕磁体是全球应用最广泛的稀土磁体类型,对iPhone、Mac和AirPods至关重要。该协议将为建设符合苹果需求的先进生产线提供资金,首批磁体预计将于2027年交付。

苹果在新闻稿中表示,通过向苹果供货,MP材料公司的得克萨斯工厂将成为全球稀土市场的重要枢纽,并支持“在先进制造和研发领域新增数十个工作岗位”。

作为协议的一部分,苹果和MP还将在加州启动一条专用的回收生产线,旨在处理来自废旧电子产品和工业废料的稀土材料。该设施将帮助苹果实现其设备中100%使用再生稀土元素的目标。该公司已在其产品线几乎所有磁体上实现了这一里程碑式目标。

目前尚不清楚苹果通过此项合作预计将直接和间接创造多少工作岗位,哪些类型的职位将被优先考虑,以及苹果和MP材料公司将启动或依靠哪些开发或培训项目来推动制造业务。苹果公司未立即回应《财富》杂志的置评请求。

避免中国的影响

在苹果与MP材料公司的这一合作举措出台之际,稀土市场正面临日益加剧的地缘政治冲击。据《纽约时报》报道,中国目前控制着全球90%以上的稀土磁体生产和精炼产能,这使其成为全球技术供应链的一个关键瓶颈,这使得人们担心在贸易紧张时期可能会出现出口限制或价格波动的情况。

通过大力投资本土生产和回收,苹果实质上是在预先构筑其供应链的防线,抢在下一次全球性供应中断发生之前,主动确保关键零部件的供应途径。

苹果与MP材料公司(该公司近期也获得了美国国防部的资金支持)的这笔交易被广泛视为一项战略性对冲措施,旨在防范未来可能威胁中国稀土稳定供应的贸易限制、关税或外交冲突。而且从原材料开采、回收利用直至最终组装,此举也深化了苹果对其零部件供应链全流程的控制力。

苹果更广泛的美国产业战略

这项稀土计划与苹果宏大的5,000亿美元美国投资计划相契合,该计划包括在半导体、AI基础设施和劳动力发展方面的重大支出。苹果近期的项目包括:

• 在得克萨斯州休斯顿新建一座AI服务器制造工厂,为苹果下一代“Apple Intelligence”平台提供支持。

• 扩大国内芯片生产和供应商培训学院,旨在构建一个由美国本土技术人才和制造合作伙伴组成的强大生态系统。

• 预计未来四年内在研发、硅工程和先进制造领域为美国新增20,000个工作岗位。

核心要点

通过投资本土稀土生产和回收,苹果正积极防范地缘政治冲击。通过这笔交易,苹果还能推进其环保目标,这在一定程度上增强了其在消费者和投资者中的品牌形象。但与此同时,作为特朗普长期要求硅谷进行的投资,这笔交易倍受关注,符合特朗普政府推动制造业回流、创造美国就业机会以及减少对外国(尤其是中国)供应链依赖的政策方向。特朗普的关税威胁似乎正在产生影响。(*)

Fortune Intelligence使用生成式人工智能来帮助撰写初稿,从而更快地为您带来突发商业新闻,同时保持我们高标准的准确性和质量。这些故事由《财富》杂志的高级商业编辑进行编辑,以在发布前验证信息的准确性。

译者:刘进龙

审校:汪皓

Apple just announced a $500 million commitment to MP Materials, the only fully integrated rare-earth producer in the United States. The multiyear deal, which includes a $200 million upfront payment, will see Apple source American-made rare-earth magnets from MP’s new manufacturing lines in Fort Worth, Texas, and collaborate on a state-of-the-art recycling facility in Mountain Pass, California.

The move, which sent MP’s stock skyrocketing 23% Tuesday morning, not only signals a shift in supply-chain tactics, but also a broader geopolitical hedge as tensions with China escalate.

Building a domestic magnet powerhouse

At the heart of the agreement is Apple’s pledge to buy neodymium magnets, the most widely used type of rare-earth magnet on the planet—essential for iPhones, Macs, and AirPods—manufactured at MP Materials’ Texas facility. The deal will fund the buildout of advanced production lines tailored for Apple’s needs, with the first shipments expected by 2027.

By supplying Apple, MP Materials’ Texas plant is positioned to become a key node in the global rare-earths market, supporting “dozens of new jobs in advanced manufacturing and R&D,” according to Apple’s press release.

As part of the deal, Apple and MP will also launch a dedicated recycling line in California, designed to process rare-earth materials from used electronics and post-industrial scrap. This facility will help Apple in achieving its goal of using 100% recycled rare-earth elements in its devices—a milestone the company has already achieved for nearly all magnets across its product lineup.

It’s unclear exactly how many jobs Apple expects to create directly and indirectly through this partnership, which types of roles will be prioritized, and what development or training programs will Apple and MP Materials launch or lean on to facilitate manufacturing. Apple did not immediately respond to Fortune‘s request for comment.

Insulating against China

This move between Apple and MP Materials comes as the rare-earths market faces intensifying geopolitical headwinds. China currently controls over 90% of global rare-earth magnet production and refining capacity, according to The New York Times, making it a critical chokepoint for the world’s technology supply chains. In recent years, Beijing has demonstrated a willingness to leverage its dominance as a geopolitical tool, raising the specter of export restrictions or price shocks during periods of trade tension.

By investing heavily in domestic production and recycling, Apple is essentially pre-bunkering its supply chain—proactively securing access to critical components before the next global disruption.

The deal with MP Materials, which is also backed by recent Pentagon funding, is widely seen as a strategic hedge against future trade restrictions, tariffs, or diplomatic rifts that could threaten the steady flow of rare earths from China. It also deepens Apple’s control over its component pipeline, from raw material extraction to recycling and final assembly.

Apple’s broader U.S. industrial strategy

This rare-earths initiative dovetails with Apple’s sweeping $500 billion U.S. investment plan, which includes major outlays in semiconductors, AI infrastructure, and workforce development. Recent projects include:

• A new AI server manufacturing facility in Houston, Texas, supporting Apple’s next-generation “Apple Intelligence” platform.

• Expansion of domestic chip production and supplier training academies, aimed at building a robust ecosystem of U.S.-based tech talent and manufacturing partners.

• A projected 20,000 new U.S. jobs in R&D, silicon engineering, and advanced manufacturing over the next four years.

The bottom line

By investing in domestic rare-earth production and recycling, Apple is proactively insulating itself from geopolitical shocks, particularly those stemming from China’s dominance in rare earths and its willingness to weaponize export controls. Apple also gets to advance its environmental goals through this deal, which strengths its brand among consumers and investors to some degree. But it also serves as a high-profile example of the kind of investment President Trump has long demanded from Silicon Valley, aligning with his administration’s push to reshore manufacturing, create American jobs, and reduce reliance on foreign—especially Chinese—supply chains. Trump’s tariff threats appear to be having an impact.

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