KORBON, a South Korean startup specializing in single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT), has secured a strategic investment from Japanese listed company Sanyo Trading Co., Ltd.

Sanyo Trading had been evaluating KORBON’s SWCNT products for the secondary battery market since early 2025, closely following the company’s technology validation process with Japanese materials firms before committing to the investment.

KORBON plans to use the funding to reinforce its production facilities and upgrade its manufacturing infrastructure to support stable, long-term SWCNT output.

The two companies are now working together to expand their presence in Japan. Sanyo Trading has secured exclusive distribution rights for KORBON’s SWCNT products in Japan, and KORBON is conducting phased technical validation with Japanese materials companies through Sanyo Trading’s local network.

SWCNT is regarded as a critical material for improving the performance of next-generation lithium-ion batteries, though its global supply remains limited due to the significant technical challenges involved in production.”The Japanese battery materials market holds technology validation standards to an exceptionally high bar,” KORBON said. “Working with Sanyo Trading, we are building a foundation for entering the Japanese market through phased technical validation with Japanese companies.” The company added that it aims to achieve meaningful commercial milestones in the Japanese market in the second half of 2026.