World Industrial & Specialty Gases Market

World Industrial & Specialty Gases Market

This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Industrial & Specialty Gases in billion cubic feet.The specific product segments analyzed are Acetylene, Argon, Carbon Dioxide, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Others. The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East, and Latin America. Annual forecasts are provided for each region for the period of 2001 through 2015. A ten-year historic analysis is also provided for these markets with annual market analytics. The report profiles 86 companies including many key and niche players worldwide such as Air Liquide, American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc.. Air Products and Chemicals, Inc., Airgas, Inc., Praxair, Inc., Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation, and The Linde Group. Market data and analytics are derived from primary and secondary research. Company profiles are mostly extracted from URL research and reported select online sources.

INDUSTRIAL & SPECIALTY GASES MCP-2081
A GLOBAL STRATEGIC BUSINESS REPORT


CONTENTS


I. INTRODUCTION, METHODOLOGY & PRODUCT DEFINITIONS

Study Reliability and Reporting Limitations I-1
Disclaimers I-2
Data Interpretation & Reporting Level I-2
Quantitative Techniques & Analytics I-3
Product Definitions and Scope of Study I-3
Acetylene I-3
Argon I-4
Carbon Dioxide I-4
Hydrogen I-4
Nitrogen I-5
Oxygen I-5
Other Industrial & Specialty Gases I-6


II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1. Industry Overview II-1
A 10-Year Outlook for the Industrial and Specialty Gases
Industry II-1
Key Input in Majority of Industrial Processes II-2
Relatively Stable II-2
Demand Grows at Premium to GDP II-2
Highly Capital-Intensive II-3
High Barriers to Entry II-3
Limited International/National Trade II-4
Differentiation by Service/Application/Price II-4
Highly Innovative Industry II-4
New Applications are Vital II-4
Potential New Applications II-4
Hydrogen as an Alternative Fuel II-4
High-Pressure Jet Cleaning Using Dry Ice Pellets of CO2 II-4
Neutralization of Alkaline Wastewater with Carbon Dioxide II-5
Current & Future Analysis II-5
Table 1: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Industrial and Specialty Gases Analyzed - Annual Sales
Figures in US$ Million for the Years 2000 through 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-5

2. Market Trends II-6
Changing Paradigms for Growth: The Two H Engine II-6
Increasing Investments, New Applications and Outsourcing –
Accelerate Growth II-6
Need for Containing Costs Sparks New Demand II-6
Higher Capital Investments Limit The Profitability II-6
Increasing Capacity Utilization Absorbs Idle Capacity II-7
Environmental Applications Driving Growth II-7
Investments Continue Despite Economic Slouch II-7
Industrial Gases en route the Developing Economies II-8
Market Maturity Doesn’t Bar New Growth II-8
The BOC Take over Fiasco: Axing the Industry’s Consolidation
Spirit II-8
Feeble Pricing Flattens the Liquid Gases Market II-8
Liquid Nitrogen Market Softens II-8
Outsourcing Industrial Gases is a Growing Trend II-9
Onsite Gas Generators: One Time Investment for On Time Supply II-9
E-Commerce a Promising Revenue Generator II-9
Soaring Input Costs Push up Prices of Industrial Gases II-9
Companies Initiate Value Added Services II-9
Scrubbing in Petrochemicals II-10
Sand-Jet Process II-10
Test Gases II-10
Water Ice and CO2 Jets II-10
Cooling Chemical Reactors II-10
Drying Out Large Plants II-10

3. Competitive Scenario II-11
Emergence of New Global Leader - The Linde Group II-11
An Overview II-11
Table 2: World Market for Industrial and Specialty Gases
(2006): Market Share of Leading Players Based on Value Sales
for The Linde Group, Air Liquide, Praxair, Air Products,
Nippon Sanso, Airgas and Others (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-11
A Comparative Analysis of the Top Three Industrial Gases
Companies II-12
Focus on Key Growth Strategies II-14
Industry Vibes in Quest for Profitability II-14
Reinforcing the Core Competencies II-14
Trend Towards Globalization in the Industrial Gases Industry II-14
Consolidation: A Solid Industrial Growth Strategy II-14
The Linde Group Breaks the Shackles II-14
Competing Globally and Co-operating Locally: The New Mantra
for Survival II-15
Smart Targeting Opportunities for Industrial Gas Companies II-15
Competitors’ Profiles II-15
The Linde Group II-15
Strategic Positioning in Geographic Regions and Product
Segments II-15
Market Leader in Cylinder and Bulk Sales II-16
Table 3: The Linde Group’s Distribution Channel (2007
(E))- Percentage Breakdown by Value Sales for Cylinders,
Merchant/Bulk, Onsite and Healthcare (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-16
Focus Towards High-Growth Gases II-16
Table 4: Leading Gas Segments for The Linde Group (2007
(E))- Percentage Breakdown by Value Sales for Healthcare,
Hydrogen, Electronics and Other (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-16
Key Player in Electronic Gases II-16
L’ Air Liquide II-17
Table 5: Leading Geographic Markets for L’Air Liquide (2005)
- Percentage Breakdown for Gas and Services Value Sales by
Europe (Excluding France), France, Americas, Asia-Pacific
and Africa (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-17

Table 6: L’ Air Liquide’s Distribution Channel for
Industrial Gases (2005))- Percentage Breakdown by Volume
Sales for Onsite, Merchant/Bulk and Cylinder (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-17
Focusing on the Southeast Asian Markets II-17
Strong Presence in the Electronics Market II-18
Table 7: Leading End-Use Markets for L’ Air Liquide (2005)
- Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales by Industrial
Customer, Large Industries, Health Care and Electronics
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-18
Proven Expertise in Non-Cryogenic Processes II-18
Praxair II-18
Industrial and Specialty Gases, Largest Volume Products II-19
Major Market Position in Non-Cryogenic Market Technology II-19
Sales Break-up II-19
Table 8: Leading Geographic Markets for Praxair (2004 &
2005) - Percentage Breakdown for Value Sales by North
America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Others
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-19

Table 9: Leading End-Use Markets for Praxair (2005)) -
Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales by Manufacturing Sector-
Metals, Energy, Healthcare, Chemical, Electronics, Food &
Beverage, Aerospace and Other Industries (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-20

Table 10: Praxair Distribution Channels for Industrial
Gases (2005)- Percentage Breakdown by Volume Sales for
Onsite, Merchant/ Bulk and Cylinder (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-20
Air Products and Chemicals II-20
Non-Cryogenic Business to Provide Volume Growth in Future II-21
Sales Break-up by Distribution Channel II-21
Table 11: Air Products’ Distribution Channels for
Industrial Gases (2005) - Percentage Breakdown by Volume
Sales for Onsite, Merchant Bulk and Cylinder (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-21
A Peek into Recent Past II-21
Table 12: Leading End-Use Market for Air Products and
Chemicals’ (2002): Percentage Breakup by Value Sales for
Refining and CPI, Electronics, Healthcare, Foods, Glass,
Metals and Other General Industries (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-21

Table 13: Air Products’ Distribution Channel for Specialty
and Industrial Gases (2002) - Percentage Breakdown by
Volume Sales for Onsite, Industrial Cylinders, Specialty
Gas and Merchant Bulk (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-22
Airgas II-22
The Hub-and-Spoke Strategy: The Key to Successful Business
Expansion II-22
Objective to be the Lowest Cost Supplier II-22

4. A Segmental Analysis II-23
Market Share of Leading Players in Recent Past II-23
Table 14: Leading Players in World Market for Oxygen (2002 &
2003) - Percentage Breakdown by Value Sales for Air Liquide,
Praxair, Air Products, BOC, Linde AG, Messer, NSC and Others
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-23

Table 15: Leading Companies in Worldwide Hydrogen Merchant
Market: Percentage Breakdown by Volume Sales for Air
Products, Praxair, Air Liquide, Linde AG, BOC and Others
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-24
Carbon Dioxide II-24
Future Demand Growth Likely in Markets Other than the US II-24
Other Industrial & Specialty Gases II-24
Profile of the Specialty Gases Industry II-24

5. A Profile of End User Industries II-25
End User Profile for Industrial and Specialty Gases II-25
Table 16: World Market for Industrial & Specialty Gases
(2005): Percentage Share Breakdown by Value Sales for Metal
fabrication, Chemicals, Primary Metals, Electronics, Health,
Refining, Food, GTL and Others (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-26
Major End-User Industries II-26
Metal Industry II-26
Steel Industry – A Major End User of Oxygen and Nitrogen II-26
Chemical Process Industry II-26
Main End Use Segments in the Chemical Industry II-27
Major Growth Determinants II-27
Electronics and Semiconductors Industry II-27
Table 17: Global Electronic Industrial Gas Market (2004):
Percentage Breakdown by Value Sales for Air Products, Air
Liquide, BOC, Taiyo Nippon Sanso, Praxair, and Others
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-27
Ultra Pure Gases: Ongoing Slowdown Blues II-28
Changing Demand Profile for Industrial Gases II-28
Healthcare Showing Healthy Growth Opportunities II-28

6. Pricing II-29
Pricing – An Influential Factor II-29
Distribution Mode: A Key Pricing Factor II-29
Power Costs: Other Major Determinant of Gas Prices II-29
Merchant Market in the US: Most Visible II-30
Key Players Announce Price Hikes II-30
Price Fluctuations II-30
Nitrogen II-30
Carbon Dioxide II-31
Chilled Seasonal Supplies II-31
Price Fixation for CO2 Quotas II-31
Helium II-31
Industry Outlook on the Pricing Pattern and Changing
Prerogatives II-31

7. Modes of Delivery II-33
Tonnage/On-Site/Pipeline II-33
Cryogenic On-Site II-33
Piggyback Liquefiers II-34
Non-Cryogenic Air Separation II-34
Factors Determining System Choice II-34
Positive Growth to Continue II-35
Current Investment Geared towards On-Site Projects II-36
Liquid/Merchant/Bulk II-36
Small-Scale Non-Cryogenic On-Site Plants Also Serve Liquid
Market II-36
Compressed/Cylinders/Packaged Gas II-37
Low-Margin ‘Hardgoods' II-37
Packaged Gas Business Generates Strong Cash Flows II-37
The ‘Hub and Spoke’ Strategy of Airgas II-38
Advances in Cylinder Gas Business II-38
Market Shares of Leading Players in Recent Past II-39
Table 18: World Market for Packaged Gases (2001 & 2002):
Percentage Breakdown of Value Sales by Air Gas, Air
Products and Others (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-39

Table 19: Percentage Breakdown of Global Industrial Gases
Market by Mode of Delivery for 2002 & 2003 (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-39

8. Product Overview II-40
Nitrogen II-40
Application Areas II-41
New Applications Fueling Growth II-42
High-tech Industry Processes Need Increasingly Pure N2 II-42
Liquid Nitrogen Provides Shear Cooling Solution II-42
Nitrogen Critical for Production of Semiconductor Chips II-43
Petroleum Industry- Important Source of Incremental Demand II-43
Oxygen II-43
Table 20: End Use Markets for Oxygen (2004): Percentage
Breakdown by Volume Sales for Primary Metals Production,
Chemicals and Gasification, Petroleum Refineries, Glass,
Clay, and Concrete, Metal Welding & Cutting, Health Services,
Paper and Pulp, Water Treatment and Others Industries
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-43
Application Areas II-44
Steel and Chemical Industries: Major Consumers of Oxygen II-45
Mode of Delivery II-46
Trends Boosting the Oxygen Market II-46
Environmental Regulations Drive the Oxygen Market II-46
Growing Market in Environmental Remediation II-46
Blast Furnaces Replacing Coke with O2 II-46
Mandatory Cuts in Noxious Fume Emissions Drives Demand for O2 II-46
O2 Increasingly Replacing Chlorine in Pulp Bleaching II-47
New Bleaching Recipes Spell Opportunity for Suppliers II-47
Increased Demand in Primary Metal Production II-47
Emerging Applications II-47
Pure O2 Replaces Air in Oxidation II-48
Oxygen as an Oxidant in Gasification II-48
Oxygen for Bleaching Textiles II-48
Oxygen to Recover Gold From Refractory Ore and Toxic Tailings II-48
Oxygen in Hydrotreating of Crude II-48
Hydrogen II-49
Application Areas II-49
Refining and Chemicals – Major End-Use Applications of Hydrogen II-50
Table 21: World Market for Hydrogen (2005 (E)): Percentage
Share Breakdown of Value Sales by End-Use Application for
Refining, Chemicals, Metals, Food, Electronics, Glass and
Others II-50
New Applications for Hydrogen II-50
Clean Gains in the Green Backdrop II-50
Fuel Cells: An Important Future Application of Hydrogen II-51
Growing Use of Hydrogen in Batch-Annealing by Steel Makers. II-52
Hydrogen for Heat Treating: Hotting Up Worldwide II-52
Delivery Mechanisms for Hydrogen II-52
Developments Impacting Hydrogen Market II-53
Petroleum Industry Likely to Lead in the Production of
Hydrogen II-53
Clean Air Act Fuels Demand for Hydrogen II-53
Challenges for Hydrogen in Penetrating into Automobile Market II-54
Carbon Dioxide II-54
Uses of Carbon Dioxide II-55
Table 22: End Users of Carbon Dioxide (2004): Percentage
Breakdown by Volume Sales to Food Industry, Beverage
Industry, Chemical & Metal Industries and Miscellaneous
Applications (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-55
Trailblazing Applications for CO2 II-55
Food-Safety Interventionism Buoys the Growth II-55
Carbon Dioxide for Water Treatment and Other Potential
Applications II-56
Super Critical Carbon Dioxide for Super Cleaning of Wafers
and Extraction of Toxic Metals II-56
High-Pressure Jet Cleaning Using Dry Ice II-57
CO2 Foam Blowing to Replace CFCs and HCFCs II-57
CO2 for Manufacturing Acetylene II-57
Formic Acid Direct from CO2 II-57
CO2 Dissolved in Water To Produce Methane & Acetic Acid II-58
Greener Way to Process Bio-molecules II-58
Solid CO2 to Clean Sensitive Electronic Test Equipment II-58
Carbon Dioxide as an Alternative to Chlorofluorocarbons II-58
CO2 as an Extinguishing Agent II-58
Carbon Dioxide to Pasteurize Fruit Juices II-59
Carbon Dioxide in Recycling of Sludge from Metalworks II-59
Carbon Dioxide in Development of Extremely Fine Particles
in Paint and Drug Industry II-59
Carbon Dioxide Washes Brownstock in Paper and Pulp Industry II-59
Carbon Dioxide to Lower pH of Alkaline Water II-59
Carbon Dioxide as Coolant in Automobiles II-60
Carbon Dioxide as Coolant in Food and Beverage Industry II-60
Carbon Dioxide to Treat Heavy Metal Contaminated Soil II-60
Argon II-60
Application Areas II-61
New Applications II-61
Making Halon-based Fire Extinguishers Gone! II-61
Betting with the Bests in Packaging II-62
Compounding Possibilities with New Compounds II-62
Liquid Argon from Cryo: Dispelling the Cylinders II-62
Acetylene II-62
Chemical Sector Largest End-Use Segment II-63
Acetylene in Internal Combustion Engines II-63
Cheaper Petrochemical Feedstock Replacements: A Potential
Threat II-63
Technology Enhancements: Turning Corners in the Sagging
Markets II-63
New Applications II-64
Go-Tec Develops Acetylene-based, Dual-Fuel System II-64
Specialty Gases II-64
Helium II-64
Uses of Helium II-65
Special Gas Mixes for Use-Specific Applications II-65
Patented Helium Recovery Systems: Set in the Cycle Again II-66
Other Specialty Gases II-66

9. Production Process II-67
Two Production Processes II-67
Cryogenic Production II-67
Non-Cryogenic Production II-67
Pressure/Vacuum Swing Adsorption (PVSA) II-67
Membrane Technology II-67
Dynamics of Non-Cryogenic Market II-68
Purity - A Crucial Limiting Factor II-68
Effect of Non-Cryogenic Gases on Merchant Market II-69
Company Specific Technology Strengths II-69
New Technology Shaping Industrial Gases Industry II-69
Complex Plants Built by Gas Companies II-69
Electricity - Major Input Cost for Producing Gases II-69

10. Technological Developments in Recent Past II-70
Praxair Commercializes High Purity Hydrogen II-70
Carbon Dioxide from Power Plant Flue Gas II-70
SC Fluids and Air Products to Develop Photoresist Stripping
Agent II-70
Improvements in Steam Methane Reforming Technology II-70
New Nitrogen Manufacturing Machine from Alliance Gas Systems II-70
CO2 Solution Develops Bioreactor-based Carbon Dioxide
Recycling Technology II-71
Engelhard Corporation Launches New Method for Nitrogen
Extraction II-71
Nitrogen to Cool Plastic Extrusion Process II-71
Nitrogen to Facilitate Gas-Assisted Injection Molding II-71
Potential Applications of Nitrogen in Semiconductor Industry II-71
Vacuum Carburizing: A Budding Opportunity II-71
Cojet Gas Injection System Technology for Basic Oxygen
Furnaces in Steel Industry II-71
Oxygen to Add Fizz to Soft Drinks II-72
Steam Methane Reforming Technology Now Economical for Small
Plants II-72
Messer Griesheim Manages Hydrogen Supply in a Novel Way II-72
Hydrogen from Risky Hydrocarbon Waste II-72
Hydrogen from Seawater II-72
Natural Gas - Source for Hydrogen Supply II-72
Kemgas Technology for Acetylene Production II-73
Air Products Develops the World’s Largest Helium Liquefier II-73
Air Products Augments the BIP Helium and Nitrogen Cylinder
Technology Suite II-73

11. Recent Industry Activity II-74
Airgas Acquires Northeast Gas Technologies II-74
Rivoira to Supply Gas Delivery Equipments to Silfab SpA II-74
Praxair Distribution Pockets Kirk Welding Supply Inc. II-74
KOGAS to Form Joint Venture with UNG II-74
Airgas Acquires Merriam-Graves II-75
Air Liquide Acquires Scott Specialty Gases II-75
Air Liquide Acquires Lurgi II-75
Air Liquide to Acquire Linde Gas UK II-75
Air Liquide Acquires Team One Technologies Inc. II-76
Air Products Supplies Specialty Gas and Chemical Equipment to
New Austin Site II-76
Praxair to Form Joint Venture for Supply of Packaged Gases II-76
Praxair to Acquire AGA S.A. de C.V. II-76
The Linde Group Pockets Birlesic Oksijen Sanayi A.S. II-77
Air Liquide Acquires Controlling Interests in its Joint
Venture Companies II-77
Private Group of CCMP Acquires Vacuum & Semiconductor
Operations of BOC Edwards II-78
Air Products & Chemicals Acquires BOC Gazy Sp zoo II-78
Airgas Acquires Lehner & Martin II-78
Airgas Acquires Major Portion of Linde AG’s US Packaged Gas
Business II-78
Valley National Gases Acquires Mitchell Industrial Supply II-78
Discount Investment Signs Agreement to Acquire Additional
Stake In Maxima II-79
Praxair Distribution Acquires Rite Weld Supply II-79
Praxair Distribution Acquires Wilson Welding & Medical Gases II-79
Linde Group Forms Joint Venture with ADNOC II-79
SOL to Erect a New Plant in Hoechst Industry Park II-79
Praxair Wins EU Approval to Acquire 50% Interest in Yara
Industrial Gases Unit II-79
Air Liquide to Construct a New Industrial Gas Plant in the
Germany II-79
Airgas Pockets Central Welding Supply, and Texas Industrial Gas II-80
Messer Group and Hoa Phat Join Forces for New Industrial Gas
Plant Establishment II-80
Linde Acquires Controlling Interest in Malaysian Oxygen II-80
Air Liquide Inaugurates Research Complex in Newark II-80
Air Liquide Severstal Establishes Gas Production Unit II-80
Linde Signs Agreement with Ningbo Wanhua Polyurethane II-81
Air Liquide Acquires Controlling Interest in Japan Air Gases II-81
Linde Snaps Up BOC Gases II-81
Praxair Takes Over Hobart Industrial Gases II-81
Airgas Acquires Aeriform Corporation II-81
Airgas Acquires US-based Airtec II-82
Airgas Takes Over Byrne Specialty Gases II-82
Airgas Takes Over West Point Supply and Related Companies II-82
Linde Acquires Karbogaz II-82
Taiyo Acquires Global Helium Assets from BOC and Linde AG II-83
MTG Acquires Linweld II-83
Messer and Hangzhou Enter into a Joint Venture Agreement II-83
Taiyo Inks Agreement with Hitachi to Acquire Hitachi Oxygen II-83
Airgas Enters into an Agreement to Take Over West Point II-84
Genesis Inks Agreement to Acquire 50% Stake in Sandhill II-84
Linde and Linde Gas Sign Undertaking to Divest the Business
of Linde Gas II-84
Praxair Enters into a Pact with Chevron II-84
SCIPG Enters into an Agreement with Bayer II-84
Hydrogenics Signs a Supply Agreement with BOC II-85
Hydrogenics Inks an Agreement with Linde Gas Division II-85
Air Products San Fu Secures Contracts from CMO and TSMC II-85
Air Liquide to Supply German Solar Cell Companies II-85
Air Products & Chemicals Completes Capacity Expansion II-85
Air Products Canada Establishes Hydrogen Plant II-86
Airgas to Construct Air Separation Unit in Kentucky II-86
BOC India to Establish New Industrial Gases Production
Facility in Bellary II-86
Air Liquide Commences Production at Hydrogen Unit II-86
Air Products’ Hydrogen Facility at ExxonMobil Refinery
Commences Operation II-87
Air Products Brings Oxygen Facility in China Onstream II-87
Linde Commences Linde Hydrogen Centre II-87
Showa Establishes New Sales Unit II-87
MTG Set up New Raleigh Distribution Center for Specialty Gas II-88
Chevron Selects Hydrogen Fueling Technology of Air Products II-88
Air Liquide Joins US Sponsored MGSC II-88
Linde Gas Agrees to Acquire Spectra Gases II-88
Airgas Acquires Certain Businesses of Kanox, Inc. II-88
Linde AG Acquires Singapore Syngas Pte. Ltd. II-89
Apria Healthcare Group to Take Over Air Liquide Healthcare
America II-89
Praxair Distribution Acquires Constar’s Packaged Gas Business II-89
Air Liquide Middle East Forms Joint Venture with Qatar
Petroleum and Qatar Nitrogen II-89
Air Liquide Inks Contract with ExxonMobil II-89
Praxair Inks an Agreement with Valero Refining -Texas, L.P II-89
Praxair Inks an Agreement with BP II-89
Praxair, Inc. Inks Supply Contract with Pemex II-90
Air Liquide Enters into Contract Saint-Gobain II-90
Air Liquide and Cognis Renovate their Supply Contract II-90
Air Liquide Inks an Agreement with Rizhao Iron & Steel II-90
Air Liquide Provides Three More ASUs to Anshan Iron & Steel II-90
Air Liquide Inks Contract with DongbuAnam Semiconductor Inc II-90
Air Liquide Enters into Contract with ZAT to Supply Nitrogen II-91
Praxair, Inc. Bags Supply Contract from Samsung II-91
Air Liquide Inks Supply Contract with Balten Corporation II-91
Air Products Bags Wison Chemical Company Contract II-91
Air Liquide to Built Largest Hydrogen Facility II-91
Air Liquide Establishes New Hydrogen plant in France II-91
Praxair Sets up New Facility in “Houston Ship Channel” II-91
Air Liquide Constructs New Hydrogen Plant in Texas II-92
Linde Technoplyn Sets Up New Industrial Gases Facility II-92
Air Liquide Inaugurates New Nitrogen Facility in Poland II-92
Air Products Opens New Air-Separation Plant in China II-92
BOC Opens New Helium Distribution Center in Dubai II-92
Airgas Acquires Packaged Gas Business of BOC in US II-92
Praxair Acquires Certain Industrial Gas Operations of Air
Liquide in Germany II-93
Linde Acquires Liquefaction Plant from Yara International ASA II-93
Praxair Inks an Agreement with Shell Petrochemicals Co Ltd
and CNOOC II-93
Praxair Chemax Bags Contract for Bulk Specialty Gas Delivery
System II-93
PGB Inks an Agreement to Supply Liquid Argon II-93
Oy AGA Inks an Agreement with Rautaruukki Corporation II-93
Air Liquide and Air Products to Supply Nitrogen to Beijing
BOE OT II-94
Linde Bags Long-Term Supply Contract from BorsodChem RT II-94
Air Liquide Bags Long Term Contract with LI Dong Chemical Co
., Ltd II-94
Air Liquide America Inks an Agreement with International-Matex II-94
Linde Inks Long-Term Supply Agreement with Bayer II-94
White Martins Enters into a Contract with Brazilian Company II-94
Praxair Inks Agreement with Solvay Chemicals, Inc II-94
Praxair Bags Supply Contract from CSPC in China II-95
Air Liquide Italy Enters into an Agreement with ERG
Raffinerie Mediterranee II-95
Praxair Canada Expands its Liquid Nitrogen Capacity in Alberta II-95
Praxair Upgrades its North Royalton Plant II-95
Airgas Puritan Medical to Concentrate on Medical Markets II-95
Praxair, Inc. Starts Up Two Facilities at Texas and Port Arthur II-95
BOC India Starts New Facility for Industrial and Special
Products in Bangalore II-95
Air Liquide America Opens New Hydrogen Plant II-96
Nippon Sanso Opens Storage facility for Specialty Gases in
Taiwan II-96
Air Liquide Divests Certain Messer Griesheim’s Liquid Gas
Operations II-96
Messer Acquires ZAK, Poland II-96
Air Liquide Acquires Intega GmbH II-96
Linde Snaps Up Erma II-96
Air Liquide and BOC Join Forces in a Japanese Gases Venture II-96
Linde and BOC Merge Global Process Plant Engineering
Capabilities II-97
Air Products Inks a Multi-year Supply Contract with Shanghai
Lan Bao II-97
Air Liquide Bags contract from STMicroelectronics and Associates II-97
BOC Inks a Multi-million dollar Oxygen Supply Contract with
TATA Steel II-97
Air Products to Build, Operate and Transfer MAP’s Hydrogen Plant II-97
Air Liquide Bags Onsite Helium Supply Contract II-97
Air Liquide Constructs Hydrogen Facility at Shell's Anacortes
Refinery II-98
Linde Expands Eastern European Gas Market II-98
Chongqing Chaoyang Gas Company Doubles Oxygen Capacity II-98
Scott Specialty Gases to Supply Protocol Gases to HTSI II-98
Air Products to Support Fuel Cell Initiative II-98
Acetylene Plant Revamp for Capacity Expansion II-98
Cangzhou Dahua Establishes a 12 000 tpa Liquid Carbon Dioxide
Project II-99
Linde Gas Xiamen Inks Contract with Xiang Lu Petrochemicals II-99
Air Products Divests the Canadian Packaged Gas Business II-99
Air Products Divests the Puerto Rican Industrial Gases Business II-99
Air Products Divests Graphic Arts Business II-99
Air Gas Acquires US Cylinder Gas Business of Air Products II-99
Air Products Acquires Messer’s Mexican Business II-99
Praxair Acquires Alpine Medical LLC II-100
Air Products Acquires Controlling Stake in San Fu Ltd II-100
BOC Canada Buys Matheson's Canadian Specialty Gases Operations II-100
BOC Teams up with Sinopec Yangzi Petrochemical Corp. II-100
Air Products Allies with Technip-Coflexip Group II-100
Linde Wins Bid to Forge a Helium Venture with Sonatrach II-101
Air Gas to Supply Cylinder Gases to Textron II-101
Air Products Inks a 10-Year Supply Agreement with Nippon
Helium Inc II-101
OY AGA AB Builds Oxygen Plant in Finland II-101
Linde Bags a Multi-Million Dollar Contract to Build Air
Separation Unit II-101
Air Products to Supply Hydrogen to Ultramar's California
Refinery II-101
BOC Supplies Nitrogen Generator and Liquid Nitrogen Back-Up
Vessel to Vopak's Storage Terminal II-101
Air Products Adds Distillation Plant for Ultra Pure Ammonia II-102
Air Products Increases Hydrogen Capacity in Louisiana II-102
Air Gas Builds $10 Million Liquid Carbon Dioxide And Dry Ice
Manufacturing Facility II-102
BOC Commissions New Industrial Gases Production Facility II-102
Tecno Agro Vial SA Commences the Production of Medicinal and
Industrial Oxygen II-102
BOC Commissions Pipeline as Part of $1.2 Million Expansion of
Braddock Plant II-102
BOC Subsidiary to Build Nitrogen Plant II-103
Air Products Commissions an Ultra High Purity Bulk Gas
Production Facility II-103
BOC Constructs Hydrogen Facility for Citgo Petroleum II-103
BOC Commissions a Hydrogen Filing Plant II-103
Air Liquide Builds a Hydrogen Plant in Spain II-103
Mitsubishi Restructures Japanese Gases Operations II-103
Air Products Acquires Messer Griesheim’s Mexican Gas Operations II-104
BOC Acquires Foster Wheeler Corp’s Stakes in South American
Joint Venture II-104
BOC Acquires Seiko Instruments’ Pumps Business II-104
L’ Air Liquide Acquires Stake in Omasa II-104
L’ Air Liquide Acquires Aria Technologies II-104
Epco Carbon Dioxide Products Acquires Cargill’s Liquid CO2
Business II-104
Air Products Joins Forces with L’ Air Liquide to Build Gas
Plant at Wuxi, China II-104
L’ Air Liquide Forms Joint Venture with Hangzhou Hangyang
Group (China) II-104
Shell Hydrogen (US) Forms Joint Venture with International
Fuel Cells II-105
Air Liquide in Joint Venture with Nuevara Fuel Cells II-105
BOC Partners with PCI-Wedeco Environmental Technologies, on
System Supply to Dallas II-105
L’ Air Liquide Forms Partnership with Dec Impianti of Italy II-105
Veecon-IPA Gastechnik Forges a Technical Collaboration with
the Japanese Kuraray Chemical II-105
Air Products and Chemicals Enters into Contract to Supply
Industrial Gases to Au Optronics’ Plant II-105
Technip Wins Contract to Set-Up Hydrogen Plant for PCK
Raffinerie II-106
BOC to Supply Oxygenation System to Shotten Paper in Deeside,
North Wales II-106
Ningxia Government Invites Investment in Chemical Project
Involving Acetylene II-106
BOC to Supply Oxygen and CO2 to Farmland National Beef
Packaging Company II-106
Avantium Technologies and Millennium Cell Reach a Joint
Research Agreement II-106
South China Gets Largest Liquid Gas Facility II-106
BOC Gases Constructs Specialty Gas Production Facility II-106
BOC Builds Hydrogen Plant at Huntsman Petrochemical’s Tees
Side Complex with Partner II-106
Air Products and Chemicals Commences Production at Hydrogen
Plant, Texas II-107
Praxair Inc. Commissions Nitrogen Plant in Giheung, Korea II-107
Peru Based Tecno Gas Sets-Up Oxygen Plant II-107
Germany Based Linde AG to Install Hydrogen Plant at Leuna
Complex II-107
Air Liquide America Sets-Up Carbon Dioxide Plant at
Washington, Indiana II-107
Iwatani Industrial Gases Corp Expands Carbon Dioxide Facility
at Ichihara, Japan II-107
Showa Denko Expands Specialty Gas Sales II-107
Daido Air Products Expands Nitrogen Trifluoride Capacity II-107
Showa Denko Establishes Semiconductor Gas Sales Unit In
Singapore II-108
L’ Air Liquide Divests Hospital Equipment Subsidiary ALM II-108
Linde Completes Mandatory Divestment of AGA Businesses II-108
Borden Chemicals and Plastics LP to Temporarily Stop
Acetylene Production II-108
Air Liquide Closes Carbon dioxide Plant in Beaumont, Texas II-108
BOC Signs Letter of Intent for the Supply of Hydrogen to
Citgo Petroleum II-108
China Based Qilu Petrochemicals Switches to Hydrogen
Production from Ammonia II-108
BOC Acquires Hydrogen Plant from Hyundai Petrochemicals II-109
Hydrogen Systems Acquires Stake in Canada Based GL&L Hydrogen
Technologies II-109
Linde Acquires AGA Gas II-109
Linde Technoplyn Merges with AGA’s Czech Division II-109
Kinder Morgan Energy Partners to Acquire Shell CO2 II-109
Iran and Russia Plan Joint Venture to Produce Liquefied Hydrogen II-109
Engi and Linde Launch an Industrial Gases Joint Venture II-109
VEECON-IPA Gastechnik in Technical Alliance with Hydrogen
Systems, Belgium II-110
BOC Gases Wins Contract to Supply Industrial Gases to WCI Steel II-110
BOC Enters into an Agreement with Ford Motor II-110
Carburos Metalicos Wins Hydrogen Unit Contract for Repsol-YPF
Spain Site II-110
BOC to Supply Hydrogen to Noranda Inc.’s Magnesium Plant in
Quebec, Canada II-110
BOC Signs 15-Year Hydrogen Supply Agreement with Hyundai
Petrochemicals II-110
Air Products to Supply Cryogenic System and Hydrogen Pipeline
to ExxonMobil II-110
Air Products to Supply Gases and Electricity to Lyondell
Chemical Company II-110
Sony Computer Entertainment (Japan) Contracts Daido Air
Products to Supply Gases II-111
BOC Signs Contract to Pipeline Nitrogen to Neville Chemical
at Pittsburgh II-111
DuPont Licenses VAM Technology to SIPC II-111
Air Products and Chemicals Secures Supply Contract from
GlobiTech II-111
Praxair Signs Technical Collaboration Agreement with
Supercritical Systems II-111
Norsk Hydro and Petrom Form Liquid Carbon Dioxide Joint Venture II-111
BOC Gases Enters into a 5-Year Supply Contract with Grocery
Works.com II-111
BOC Commissions Hydrogen Production Unit at Bulwer Island in
Australia II-112
Praxair Inaugurates Air Separation Unit in Sriperumbudur, India II-112
Air Liquide Opens a new Diving Gases Facility II-112
BOC Builds Hydrogen Plant in Quebec, Canada II-112
Alkyl Amines Chemicals Sets-up Hydrogen Facility in Kurkumbh,
India II-112
Air Products Commissions Hydrogen and Synthesis Gas Plant in
Singapore II-112
Air Products & Chemicals Commissions Hydrogen Plant at
Carson, California II-112
BOC Sets-Up Air Separation Unit in Coffeyville, Kansas, US II-112
Air Liquide America Corporation Plans Hydrogen Capacity
Expansion in Freeport II-113
Tianjin United Chemical, China, Constructs Carbon Dioxide Plant II-113
Conair and Material Enhancement Technology Inc. Join Research
Efforts on Nitrogen Gas Cooling Process II-113
BOC Gases Provides Vitox System to Napa County, California II-113
L’ Air Liquide Acquires Rhodia’s Syngas and Hydrogen Supply
Assets II-113

12. Focus on Select Players II-114
Air Liquide (L’ Air Liquide S.A.) (France) II-114
American Air Liquide Holdings, Inc. (USA) II-114
Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. (USA) II-115
Airgas, Inc. (USA) II-115
Praxair, Inc. (USA) II-116
Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation (Japan) II-116
The Linde Group (Germany) II-117

13. Global Market Perspective II-118
Table 23: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Industrial and Specialty Gases by Geographic Region – US,
Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle
East, and Latin American Markets Independently Analyzed with
Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the Years 2001
through 2010 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-118

Table 24: World Long-term Projections for Industrial and
Specialty Gases by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan,
Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the Years 2011 through 2015
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-119

Table 25: World Historic Review for Industrial and Specialty
Gases by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe,
Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the Years 1991 through 2000
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-120

Table 26: World 15-Year Perspective for Industrial and
Specialty Gases by Geographic Region – Percentage Breakdown
of Volume Sales for US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific
(excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets for
Years 1998, 2008 & 2012 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-121

Table 27: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Acetylene by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe,
Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the years 2001 through 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-122

Table 28: World Long-term Projections for Acetylene by
Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific
(excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets
Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion
Cubic Feet for the Years 2011 through 2015 (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-123

Table 29: World Historic Review for Acetylene by Geographic
Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding
Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets Independently
Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for
Years 1991 through 2000 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-124

Table 30: World 15-Year Perspective for Acetylene by
Geographic Region – Percentage Breakdown of Volume Sales for
US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan),
Middle East, and Latin American Markets for Years 1998, 2008 &
2012 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-125

Table 31: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Argon by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe,
Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the years 2001 through 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-126

Table 32: World Long-term Projections for Argon by Geographic
Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia- Pacific (excluding
Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets Independently
Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for
the Years 2011 through 2015 (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-127

Table 33: World Historic Review for Argon by Geographic
Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding
Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets Independently
Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for
Years 1991 through 2000 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-128

Table 34: World 15-Year Perspective for Argon by Geographic
Region – Percentage Breakdown of Volume Sales for US,
Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle
East, and Latin American Markets for Years 1998, 2008 & 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-129

Table 35: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Carbon Dioxide by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan,
Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and
Latin American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual
Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the years 2001
through 2010 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-130

Table 36: World Long-term Projections for Carbon Dioxide by
Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific
(excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets
Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion
Cubic Feet for the Years 2011 through 2015 (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-131

Table 37: World Historic Review for Carbon Dioxide by
Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia- Pacific
(excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets
Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion
Cubic Feet for Years 1991 through 2000 (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-132

Table 38: World 15-Year Perspective for Carbon Dioxide by
Geographic Region – Percentage Breakdown of Volume Sales for
US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan),
Middle East, and Latin American Markets for Years 1998, 2008 &
2012 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-133

Table 39: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Hydrogen by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe,
Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the years 2001 through 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-134

Table 40: World Long-term Projections for Hydrogen by
Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific
(excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets
Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion
Cubic Feet for the Years 2011 through 2015 (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-135

Table 41: World Historic Review for Hydrogen by Geographic
Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding
Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets Independently
Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for
Years 1991 through 2000 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-136

Table 42: World 15-Year Perspective for Hydrogen by Geographic
Region – Percentage Breakdown of Volume Sales for US, Canada,
Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East,
and Latin American Markets for Years 1998, 2008 & 2012
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-137

Table 43: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Nitrogen by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe,
Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the years 2001 through 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-138

Table 44: World Long-term Projections for Nitrogen by
Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific
(excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets
Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion
Cubic Feet for the Years 2011 through 2015 (includes
corresponding Graph/Chart) II-139

Table 45: World Historic Review for Nitrogen by Geographic
Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding
Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets Independently
Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for
Years 1991 through 2000 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-140

Table 46: World 15-Year Perspective for Nitrogen by Geographic
Region – Percentage Breakdown of Volume Sales for US, Canada,
Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East,
and Latin American Markets for Years 1998, 2008 & 2012
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-141

Table 47: World Recent Past, Current & Future Analysis for
Oxygen by Geographic Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe,
Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East, and Latin
American Markets Independently Analyzed with Annual Sales
Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for the years 2001 through 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-142

Table 48: World Long-term Projections for Oxygen by Geographic
Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding
Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets Independently
Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for
the Years 2011 through 2015 (includes corresponding
Graph/Chart) II-143

Table 49: World Historic Review for Oxygen by Geographic
Region – US, Canada, Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding
Japan), Middle East, and Latin American Markets Independently
Analyzed with Annual Sales Figures in Billion Cubic Feet for
Years 1991 through 2000 (includes corresponding Graph/Chart) II-144

Table 50: World 15-Year Perspective for Oxygen by Geographic
Region – Percentage Breakdown of Volume Sales for US, Canada,
Japan, Europe, Asia-Pacific (excluding Japan), Middle East,
and Latin American Markets for Years 1998, 2008 & 2010
(includes corresponding Graph/Ch