Abstract
Industrial gas industry is the back bone of the industrial sector. Industrial gases are used in the manufacturing process of virtually all the major industries. Industrial gases were discovered during the later half of the eighteenth century. The main gases are oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen and some specialty gases.
These gases are present in the natural air and are extracted from there through a separation process while some gases are produced through chemical synthesis. The gas separation techniques used are cryogenic and non-cryogenic. The cryogenic methods are the traditional and most popular. Under the cryogenic method separation depends on cooling as well as pressurizing the air till it becomes liquid.
The energy, electronics, and health care sectors continue to drive worldwide growth for gas firms. The main driving factors for the growth of industrial gases are demand for improving product quality and environment performance.
The big four players of this industry are Air Liquid, Linde, Praxair and Air Products & Chemicals and these together command a large share of the market. The industry is capital intensive and requires a huge capital while the earnings are spread a longer period as gases are normally provided on contracts that lasts upto fifteen years. These factors prove as barriers of entry for new players.
This report analyzes the state and growth of this industry. It discusses the various separation techniques used. The report talks about the recent happenings in the industry, the trends and the size of the industry. It also discusses the major players in this industry and the market share they command.
Table of Contents
1. Overview
- 1.1 Introduction
- 1.2 Gas Processing Technology
- 1.3 Cryogenic Technology
- 1.4 Structure of the Industrial Gas Market
2. Market Size
- 2.1 Worldwide Market Share
- 2.2 US Demand Forecast
3. Market Drivers
- 3.1 Making Environmentally Clean Products
- 3.2 Energy Demand in Emerging Markets
- 3.3 China' s Coal Reserves
4. Barriers to Entry
- 4.1 Investment Capacity and Financial Resilience
- 4.2 Creation of Customer Bases and Supply Organizations
5. Mergers and Acquisitions
- 5.1 Airgas
- 5.2 Praxair
- 5.3 Linde
- 5.4 Air Liquide
- 5.5 Air Products & Chemicals
6. Competitive Landscape
- 6.1 Financial Comparison
- 6.2 Market Position by End Markets
- 6.3 Market Position by Geography
- 6.4 Market Position by Segments
7. Company Profiles
- 7.1 Linde
- 7.1.1 Overview
- 7.1.2 Key Financials
- 7.1.3 Business Strategies
- 7.1.4 Strengthening Business Profile
- 7.1.5 Reducing Debt Margins
- 7.1.6 Sustainable Growth
- 7.1.7 Expansion in Specialty Gases
- 7.2 Air Liquide
- 7.2.1 Overview
- 7.2.2 Key Financials
- 7.2.3 Business Strategies
- 7.2.4 Customer Diversification
- 7.2.5 Strong Focus on Healthcare
- 7.2.6 New Opportunities
- 7.2.7 Growing Portfolio of Projects
- 7.3 Air Product
- 7.3.1 Overview
- 7.3.2 Key Financials
- 7.3.3 Business Strategies
- 7.3.4 Getting More Focused, Less Cyclical
- 7.3.5 Focus on Europe and Asia
8. Comparative SWOT Analysis
- 8.1 Linde
- 8.1.1 Strengths
- 8.1.1.1 Strong in Emerging Markets
- 8.1.1.2 Engineering Growth
- 8.1.2 Weaknesses
- 8.1.2.1 Weakness in Onsite and Hydrogen Business
- 8.1.3 Opportunities
- 8.1.3.1 Strong Growth in Industrial Gas Market
- 8.1.4 Threats
- 8.1.4.1 Economic Cyclicality
- 8.1.4.2 Other Risks
- 8.1.1 Strengths
- 8.2 Air Liquide
- 8.2.1 Strengths
- 8.2.1.1 Strong Geographical Mix
- 8.2.1.2 Well-positioned in Cylinder Gases
- 8.2.2 Weaknesses
- 8.2.2.1 Weak Financial Performance Vs Peers
- 8.2.3 Opportunities
- 8.2.3.1 Onsite Business in Hydrogen
- 8.2.4 Threats
- 8.2.4.1 Enormous Potential
- 8.2.4.2 Global Vs Local Opportunities
- 8.2.1 Strengths
- 8.3 Air Products and Chemicals
- 8.3.1 Strengths
- 8.3.1.1 Market Leadership
- 8.3.1.2 Energy Driving Growth
- 8.3.2 Weaknesses
- 8.3.2.1 Weak Outlook for Equipment and Energy
- 8.3.3 Opportunities
- 8.3.3.1 Good Prospects in Hydrogen and Oxygen
- 8.3.4 Threats
- 8.3.4.1 Volatility in Raw Material Costs
- 8.3.1 Strengths
List of Tables
- Gas Majors ROCE (2000-06)
- Gas Majors - Focus on Industrial Gases
- Aggregate Operating Margin of Industrial Gas Industry Majors (1991-2006)
- Leading Positions of Global Gas Majors by Geography (2007)
- Gas Majors - Global Market Positions by Segment (2007)
- Gas Majors - Sales Breakup by End Market (2007)
List of Charts
- Types of Gas Processing Technologies
- Dry Physical Separation
- Gas Majors Share of Global Sales (2007)
- U.S. Industrial Gas Demand Forecast by End Market (2010)
- Estimated Sales of Major Industrial Gas Players in China
- Linde - Revenue and Margins Growth (2003-07)
- Air Liquide - Revenue and Margins Growth (2003-07)
- Air Product & Chemicals - Revenue and Margins Growth (2003-07)
- Comparative SWOT Chart
