Century Medical Inc., a subsidiary of Japanese trading house Itochu Corp., will take over SunMed Group Holdings' Japan sales operations. The US medical equipment maker has struggled to remain profitable in the country due to the weak yen and inflationary pressure. The deal is not yet official.

Century Medical will assume sales, delivery, inventory management and logistics for SunMed products including closed suction catheters in Japan, according to people familiar with the matter. Michigan-based SunMed does business in Japan as AirLife after a 2023 rebrand. The sources declined to be named as the decision remains confidential.

The partnership provides SunMed with a local distribution partner to navigate Japan's challenging economic environment while allowing Itochu to expand its healthcare distribution network. Japanese trading houses increasingly serve as distribution arms for foreign medical device companies seeking market access in the country.

This arrangement reflects a broader trend where foreign medical device makers partner with established Japanese trading houses to manage domestic sales amid yen weakness and rising inflationary costs.