Paris, 28 May 2008 - In Western Europe, the industrial gases market continues to grow, energised by the manufacture of capital and infrastructure goods, by automobiles, the food industry and the photovoltaic market.
In this context of continuous growth in demand for industrial merchant gases, Air Liquide (Paris:AI) will invest €110 million in Germany and Portugal in two production units for liquefied air gases (liquid oxygen, liquid nitrogen, and liquid argon). By developing its production capacities in this way, Air Liquide is supporting the rise in its customers’ demand and is strengthening its presence in growth areas. The production units will start up between the end of 2009 and 2010.
In Germany, Air Liquide has decided to construct the unit in the region of Ulm (southern Germany), an area of strong growth and one of its main sites for air gas liquefaction. This represents an investment of around €60 million.
In Portugal, Air Liquide is to increase its production capacity in order to meet growth in its markets. This investment of around €50 million will be made at Sines (an industrial basin located 150 km south of Lisbon) and comprises a unit that will produce liquefied air gases, as well as products in gaseous form for industries at the Sines site.
Guy Salzgeber, Vice-President European Industrial Business and member of the Group’s Executive Committee, declared: “These investments in Western Europe allow us to support our customers’ growing demand in these areas. These units benefit from the latest technologies in terms of the efficiency of electricity consumption and contribute to the Group’s global objective in this area. They are part of the €10 billion investment program for the period 2007-2011 that the Group is implementing to accelerate its growth.”
Industrial Merchant activities of Air Liquide
Its customers, which range from craftsmen to small businesses, use small or medium amounts of gas, in 5 key sectors:
food and pharmaceuticals,
automobile and manufacturing,
craftsmen and distributors,
materials and energy,
technology and research.
2007 revenue for the Industrial Merchant World Business Line amounted to €4.439 billion, or 44% of Gas and Services sales.
With more than 40,000 employees in 75 countries, Air Liquide is the world leader in industrial and medical gases and related services. The Group offers innovative solutions based on constantly enhanced technologies and produces air gases (oxygen, nitrogen, argon, rare gases…) and many other gases including hydrogen. The Group contributes to the manufacturing of many everyday products: bubbles in sparkling beverages, protective atmosphere for packed foods, oxygen for hospitals and homecare patients, ultra-pure gases for the semiconductor industry, hydrogen to desulfurize fuels...
Air Liquide is committed to sustainable development and helps to protect life. Founded in 1902, Air Liquide has successfully developed a long-term relationship with its shareholders built on trust and transparency and guided by the principles of corporate governance. Since the publication of its first consolidated financial statements in 1971, Air Liquide has posted strong and steady earnings growth. Sales in 2007 totaled 11,801 million euros, with sales outside France accounting for almost 80%. Air Liquide is listed on the Paris stock exchange and is a component of the CAC 40 and Eurostoxx 50 indices (ISIN code FR 0000120073).