Top 10 Companies in the Sodium Battery Negative Electrode Active Material Market (2026): Market Leaders Powering Next-Generation Energy Storage

In Business Insights
February 17, 2026


The Global Sodium Battery Negative Electrode Active Material Market was valued at approximately USD 320 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 1.8 billion by 2034, growing at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of nearly 20% during the forecast period (2024–2034). This explosive growth is being driven by the escalating demand for cost-effective and sustainable energy storage, the abundance of sodium compared to lithium, and the accelerating adoption of sodium-ion battery technology across energy storage and electric mobility sectors.

As the energy storage industry pivots towards more sustainable and economically viable alternatives to lithium-ion, the spotlight is on the key materials suppliers who are driving innovation in anode technology. In this blog, we profile the Top 10 Companies in the Sodium Battery Negative Electrode Active Material Industry—a mix of established chemical giants, specialized carbon material producers, and ambitious innovators shaping the future of next-generation batteries.


🔟 1. Kuraray Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: High-performance Hard Carbon Anode Materials

Kuraray is a leading global specialty chemicals company and a pioneer in the development of advanced hard carbon materials for sodium-ion batteries. Leveraging its deep expertise in synthetic chemistry and carbon materials, Kuraray produces hard carbons known for their high capacity, excellent cycling stability, and superior rate performance, making them a preferred choice for major battery manufacturers.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Proprietary synthesis technology for tailored hard carbon structures

  • Strategic partnerships with leading sodium-ion battery cell developers

  • Continuous R&D focused on increasing reversible capacity and first-cycle efficiency

Download FREE Sample Report: Sodium Battery Negative Electrode Active Material Market – View in Detailed Research Report


9️⃣ 2. KUREHA Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Battery-grade Hard Carbon Anodes

KUREHA is a major Japanese chemical company with a strong foothold in the carbon materials space, notably as a leading supplier of graphite anodes for lithium-ion batteries. The company is successfully transitioning its expertise to develop and commercialize high-quality hard carbon materials specifically engineered for the rigorous demands of sodium-ion battery applications.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Leveraging decades of experience in carbon material science

  • Scaling up production capacity to meet anticipated market demand

  • Focusing on material consistency and performance reliability for OEMs


8️⃣ 3. BTR New Material Group Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Key Offering: Hard Carbon and Composite Anode Materials

BTR is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of lithium-ion battery anode materials and is aggressively expanding into the sodium battery sector. The company’s strong R&D capabilities and massive production scale position it as a key contender to supply the growing global demand for cost-effective hard carbon anodes.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Rapid scaling of hard carbon production lines

  • Development of composite materials to enhance performance

  • Close collaboration with Chinese battery makers for tailored solutions


7️⃣ 4. JFE Chemical Corporation

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: High-Capacity Hard Carbon Anodes

JFE Chemical, part of the JFE Group, utilizes its expertise in carbonaceous materials derived from its steel industry background to produce advanced hard carbon for batteries. The company focuses on creating materials with optimized pore structures and surface chemistry to maximize sodium-ion storage capacity and longevity.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Utilization of industrial by-products for sustainable material sourcing

  • Investment in advanced characterization and processing technologies

  • Targeting applications in both high-power and high-energy battery systems

Download FREE Sample Report: Sodium Battery Negative Electrode Active Material Market – View in Detailed Research Report


6️⃣ 5. Stora Enso Oyj

Headquarters: Helsinki, Finland
Key Offering: Lignode® – Bio-based Hard Carbon from Lignin

Stora Enso, a leading provider of renewable products in the bioeconomy, is pioneering the production of sustainable hard carbon anodes derived from lignin, a natural polymer found in trees. Their Lignode® product line represents a circular approach to battery materials, turning a paper-and-pulp industry by-product into a high-value component for energy storage.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • World’s first industrial-scale production of bio-based hard carbon

  • Emphasis on sustainability and a low carbon footprint

  • Developing lignin-based materials for superior electrochemical performance


5️⃣ 6. Sumitomo Bakelite Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
Key Offering: Phenolic Resin-based Hard Carbon Materials

Sumitomo Bakelite, a pioneer in phenolic resins, applies its deep knowledge of thermosetting plastics to produce high-purity hard carbon materials. The company’s controlled pyrolysis processes yield hard carbons with consistent properties, making them suitable for demanding battery applications that require high reliability and performance.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Expertise in precursor chemistry for tailored carbon properties

  • Focus on high-purity materials for enhanced battery safety and life

  • Collaborations with research institutions to push performance boundaries


4️⃣ 7. Shanghai Putailai New Energy Technology Co., Ltd. (Jiangxi Zichen)

Headquarters: Shanghai, China
Key Offering: Hard Carbon Anodes and Battery Materials

Putailai is a rapidly growing Chinese company specializing in key materials for new energy industries. Through its subsidiary Jiangxi Zichen, the company is becoming a significant supplier of hard carbon anode materials, leveraging China’s robust battery supply chain and growing domestic demand for sodium-ion technology.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Aggressive capacity expansion to capture market share

  • Integration within the broader battery materials ecosystem

  • Cost-competitive manufacturing for mass-market adoption


3️⃣ 8. Shenzhen XFH Technology Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Shenzhen, China
Key Offering: Hard Carbon and Advanced Anode Materials

Shenzhen XFH Technology is a specialized manufacturer of battery materials, focusing on the development and production of anode materials for next-generation batteries. The company is actively engaged in scaling up its hard carbon production to serve the emerging sodium battery market, particularly within China’s vibrant energy storage sector.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Focus on high-rate capability materials for power-intensive applications

  • Tailoring materials for specific customer requirements

  • Investing in automation for improved product consistency


2️⃣ 9. Hunan Zhongke Electric Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Changsha, China
Key Offering: Carbon-based Anode Materials for Sodium Batteries

Hunan Zhongke Electric is a technology-driven company focused on advanced materials for energy storage. Building on its experience in carbon materials, the company is developing and commercializing hard carbon anodes optimized for the specific electrochemical characteristics of sodium-ion systems.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Research focus on improving the initial Coulombic efficiency of hard carbon

  • Development of cost-effective synthesis routes from various precursors

  • Collaboration with academic partners for fundamental material research


1️⃣ 10. Jinan Shengquan Group Share Co., Ltd.

Headquarters: Jinan, China
Key Offering: Bio-based Hard Carbon from Phenolic Resins

Jinan Shengquan Group is a leading global supplier of phenolic resins and composite materials. The company is leveraging its strong position in resin chemistry to produce high-quality hard carbon materials for sodium battery anodes, exploring both fossil-based and bio-based precursors for sustainable material options.

Innovation Initiatives:

  • Exploring renewable feedstocks for green material production

  • Optimizing pyrolysis conditions for enhanced electrochemical properties

  • Scaling up pilot production to commercial volumes

Get Full Report Here: Sodium Battery Negative Electrode Active Material Market – View in Detailed Research Report


🔋 Outlook: The Future of Sodium Battery Anodes Is High-Performance and Sustainable

The sodium battery negative electrode active material market is undergoing a rapid transformation. While hard carbon currently dominates commercial applications, the industry is investing significantly in next-generation materials, advanced synthesis processes, and sustainable sourcing to unlock the full potential of sodium-ion technology.

📈 Key Trends Shaping the Market:

  • Accelerated capacity expansion for hard carbon production globally

  • Intensive R&D into alloy-based and conversion-type anode materials for higher capacity

  • Growing emphasis on bio-based and sustainably sourced precursor materials

  • Strategic partnerships between material suppliers and battery OEMs to accelerate commercialization

Get Full Report Here: Sodium Battery Negative Electrode Active Material Market – View in Detailed Research Report

The companies listed above are not only supplying critical materials for next-generation batteries—they’re spearheading the transition to more sustainable and accessible energy storage for a wide range of applications, from grid storage to electric mobility.