KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia--Malaysian copper-composite manufacturer Vertex Material plans to go public in the U.S. next year after achieving a reported valuation of about $7 billion.

The advanced-materials company on Thursday said it is targeting a Nasdaq listing in 2027 and intends to establish a U.S. manufacturing facility to support commercial-scale production, direct copper sourcing and logistics for customers. The company's $7 billion valuation is based on a report prepared by a local accounting firm, it said.

Vertex Material develops copper-composite materials for industrial applications using proprietary technology to reduce the amount of pure metal required. Its products, which maintain specified electrical, thermal and mechanical characteristics dictated by customer specifications, are targeted at applications where 100% copper isn't technically required.

Demand for copper, a critical material in many industries, has exploded amid the the artificial-intelligence infrastructure buildout. According to the International Energy Agency, the global copper market, valued at $248.2 billion in 2025, is estimated to face a 30% deficit by 2035, driven by AI, semiconductor and defense applications.

Vertex Material, which has set up a pilot plant in Malaysia, said it has already secured an offtake arrangement for 160,000 metric tons of product annually. The company's proposed U.S. expansion will bring manufacturing closer to its target customers and major copper producers in the Americas, it said.

Founder and technical director Tan Chin Tong said the company's immediate priority is to demonstrate consistent product performance, expand capacity and build a reliable supply chain.