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A view of the DIFA 2026 exhibition. / Courtesy of L&F

L&F has begun South Korea's first mass production of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathode materials, expanding its business beyond its existing focus on nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) materials. Having established an annual production capacity of 30,000 metric tons, the company is also introducing high-density LFP cathode technology as part of its efforts to diversify supply chains in a market long dominated by Chinese manufacturers.

L&F announced on Oct. 26 that it had participated in the Daegu International Future Auto & Mobility Expo 2026 (DIFA 2026), held at EXCO in Daegu from Oct. 21 to 24, where it showcased its NCM and LFP cathode technologies and outlined its research and development plans for next-generation materials.

The exhibition focused particularly on LFP cathode materials, which L&F began mass-producing for the first time in South Korea at the end of the third quarter. The company said it had developed proprietary production technology based on more than a decade of experience in LFP cathode development and its expertise in mass-producing NCM cathode materials.

In particular, L&F has developed third-generation high-density LFP cathode materials with a compacted density of at least 2.5 grams per cubic centimeter. The company said the materials address the relatively low energy density of conventional LFP cathodes, improving both performance and cost competitiveness.

L&F has also established a production base to support the expansion of its LFP business. In August last year, it established L&F Plus, a wholly owned subsidiary dedicated to producing and selling LFP cathode materials. Following equipment trial runs and quality verification, the company shipped its first trial-production products in late July this year and began mass production with an annual capacity of 30,000 metric tons at the end of the third quarter.

At the exhibition, L&F also presented its research and development progress on next-generation materials, including cathode materials for sodium-ion batteries and all-solid-state batteries. The company plans to diversify its product portfolio beyond NCM and LFP while developing a battery materials supply chain independent of China.

L&F also organized programs to engage with the local community. It held two cathode technology training sessions for 21 students from regional universities, including Yeungnam University, Keimyung University and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology (DGIST). The company also invited employees' families to an event introducing its core technologies and business strategies.

"We demonstrated our differentiated competitiveness based on the technological expertise we have accumulated in NCM cathode materials and our proprietary LFP cathode production technology," said Heo Je-hong, CEO of L&F. "Through continuous technological innovation and improvements in our production technology, we will create new growth opportunities in the battery materials market."

                                                                                                            Lee Seo-yeon