Apple plans to invest in a U.S. titanium producer for its new iPhone Duo as the company faces ongoing supply constraints.
The iPhone maker said on Oct. 20 that it will commit up to $100 million over the next three years to the Pennsylvania-based Perryman Company.
The investment will support titanium production for Apple’s product lineup, including the $1,999 foldable Duo and camera components for the iPhone 18 Pro. Perryman will melt, forge, and roll Grade 5 titanium, with Apple confirming that at least 80 percent of the material will come from recycled content.
Although the global titanium market is not facing a physical shortage, it has experienced persistent supply constraints and production bottlenecks in recent years. China accounts for approximately three-quarters of global titanium metal production, while Russia remains a leading supplier of aerospace-grade titanium.
But the latest investment highlights the company’s growing efforts to build a domestic supply chain, says Sabih Khan, Apple’s chief operating officer.
Apple launched the American Manufacturing Program last year, a $600 billion initiative to bolster U.S. manufacturing, skills training, and job creation. It came in response to President Donald Trump’s global tariffs.
The trillion-dollar tech giant said that almost 100 components used in the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro are manufactured by U.S. firms across a dozen states.
Additionally, the company highlighted its growing list of partnerships, including Broadcom for U.S.-made semiconductors and Corning for specialty glass used in iPhones and Watches.
Apple also announced it is expanding its partnership with Delaware-based Qnity Electronics to produce advanced films for the iPhone 18 Pro camera system.
The White House estimates that investments in U.S. manufacturing have exceeded $11 trillion and go beyond just technology.
The United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Japan account for nearly a third—or $3.6 trillion—of these investments. Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Amazon are some of the leading companies investing in America’s manufacturing base.
Shares of Apple were little changed on Oct. 20. The stock is up 26 percent year-to-date to above $342.
Global Smartphone Market Slumps
Apple expects strong demand for the iPhone Duo, with pre-orders selling out in various regions within minutes. But social media reports indicate customers are seeing delivery dates pushed out to January 2027.
The company will likely offer more insight into the iPhone Duo’s status in its latest earnings report next month.
While consumers appear ready for the iPhone Duo, the rest of the global smartphone market is on track for its worst third quarter in more than a decade.
Global smartphone shipments fell 20 percent year over year in the July–September period, the worst third quarter since 2012, according to Counterpoint Research.
A wide range of factors is driving this decline, including shifts in consumer behavior, says Shilpi Jain, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research.
“Consumers are holding on to their devices longer than estimated, increasingly considering refurbished devices and prioritizing higher-value devices,” Jain said in a report.
The top smartphone brands in the world—Samsung, Apple, and Xiaomi—saw shipments decline in the previous quarter.
Meanwhile, looking ahead to the rest of 2026, the landscape remains challenging as companies prioritize “profitability over shipment volumes amid elevated component costs and weaker affordability.”
Smartphone prices were down 10 percent year-over-year in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Reuters contributed to this report.
