Europe Air Separation Unit Market Size
| Study Period | 2021 - 2029 |
| Base Year For Estimation | 2023 |
| Forecast Data Period | 2024 - 2029 |
| Historical Data Period | 2021 - 2022 |
| CAGR | 3.00 % |
| Market Concentration | Medium |
Major Players
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order |
Europe Air Separation Unit Market Analysis
The Europe air separation unit market is expected to register a CAGR of 3% during the forecast period.
The market studied was negatively impacted by COVID-19 in 2020. However, it has been recovering and now reached pre-pandemic levels.
Factors such as increasing demand for industrial gases, spurred by the growth in steel and process industries, are expected to drive the growth of the market studied during the forecast period.
However, high energy consumption and high capital costs are expected to hamper the growth of the European air separation unit market during the forecast period.
Growth in the infrastructure sector may increase the demand for steel and other materials, which is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for the Europe air separation unit market during the forecast period.
Germany dominates the market and may witness the highest CAGR during the forecast period. This growth is attributed to the increasing investments and rising demand for industrial gases in different end-user industries.
Europe Air Separation Unit Market Trends
This section covers the major market trends shaping the Europe Air Separation Unit Market according to our research experts:
Cryogenic Distillation Segment is Expected to Dominate the Market
Industries with complex process configurations, such as the refinery, iron and steel, and manufacturing industries, are expected to hold the most significant demand for cryogenic distillation-based air separation units during the forecast period due to their continuous requirement for highly pure industrial gases to avoid any process disruption. Technology for separating air into its primary components (oxygen, nitrogen, and argon) by cryogenic distillation has been in practice for over 100 years.
In 2021, LNG exports from Europe (including Russia) were 43.4 billion cubic meters. Russia accounts for the majority of LNG exports from Europe, followed by Spain and the Netherlands. Cryogenic distillation-based air separation units (ASUs) are largely applied across industries that consume large quantities of industrial gases (steel, refining, and petrochemicals) or require a multi-product supply, as they ensure a flexible and reliable supply for end users.
Nitrogen-only cryogenic distillation production plants are considered less complicated and require less power to operate than an oxygen-only plant, making the same product. Co-production of both products is deemed cost-effective in terms of capital and energy utilization, and it is expected to witness high demand during the forecast period. The LNG regasification process leads to natural gas formation, and the conversion process has huge potential for cold energy recovery. The integration of cryogenic ASU with LNG regasification units is getting popular, as it is considered a promising alternative for utilizing the cold energy of LNG.
Therefore, the increased focus by companies on business opportunities pertaining to the LNG sector is expected to boost the cryogenic distillation ASU market's growth during the forecast period.
Germany is Expected to Dominate the Market
Germany is a major market for industrial gases in Europe. The European Union has allocated a significant share of funds to infrastructure, ranging from 20% to 35%. The rise in investments for infrastructural development gives scope to the growth of industrial gas demand, which is expected to drive the demand in the air separation unit market in the coming years.
Vehicles refer to motor vehicles that are used for transporting goods or paid passengers. In 2021, over 3.10 million unit vehicles were sold or registered in Germany. Sales fell by 11% from 2020 to 2021. The chemical and pharmaceutical industry in the country is the third-largest industry, behind only automotive, machinery, and equipment. The country is planning to increase its research and development spending from USD 14.44 billion in 2020 to USD 28.98 billion by 2050, which is expected to drive the chemical and pharmaceutical industry's in the country, in turn boosting the air separation units market in the country during the forecast period. In May 2022, Polish company PKN Orlen invested in an air separation unit for oxygen and nitrogen production at the Plock refinery in Germany. The project is estimated to cost USD 172 million and will be built by Linde Group and is expected to start operations by early 2025.
German car manufacturers are continuously expanding their foreign production capacity, attributed to the increasing international demand for high-value, premium small- and compact-sized cars and premium SUVs. The country's world-class R&D infrastructure, complete industry value chain integration, and highly qualified workforce have created an internationally peerless automotive environment. Hence, the increasing production of auto components is expected to increase the demand for ASUs during the forecast period.
Therefore, the rise in investments for infrastructural development boosts the growth of industrial gases, which is expected to drive the air separation unit market's growth during the forecast period.
Europe Air Separation Unit Industry Overview
The European air separation unit market is moderately consolidated in nature. Some of the major players in the market (in no particular order) are Air Liquide SA, Linde PLC, SIAD Macchine Impianti SpA, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., and Messer Group GmbH.
Europe Air Separation Unit Market Leaders
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Air Liquide SA
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Linde PLC
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SIAD Macchine Impianti SpA
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Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
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Messer Group GmbH
*Disclaimer: Major Players sorted in no particular order
Europe Air Separation Unit Market News
In May 2022, PKN Orlen plans to invest in an air separation unit for oxygen and nitrogen production at the Plock refinery in Poland. The ASU will be built by the German company Linde GmbH. The project investment is estimated to cost PLN 760 million (EUR 164 million) and is expected to be completed by early 2025. The plant's production capacity will be 38,500 cubic meters of oxygen and 75,000 cubic meters of nitrogen per hour.
In February 2021, Air Liquide SA and BASF SE signed a new long-term agreement to supply oxygen and nitrogen to one of BASF's European sites. Air Liquide will invest around USD 48 million in constructing an Air Separation Unit (ASU) located at Schwarzheide, Germany.
Europe Air Separation Unit Market Report - Table of Contents
1. INTRODUCTION
- 1.1 Scope of the Study
- 1.2 Market Definition
- 1.3 Study Assumptions
2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
3. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
4. MARKET OVERVIEW
- 4.1 Introduction
- 4.2 Market Size and Demand Forecast in USD billion, till 2027
- 4.3 Recent Trends and Developments
- 4.4 Government Policies and Regulations
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4.5 Market Dynamics
- 4.5.1 Drivers
- 4.5.2 Restraints
- 4.6 Supply Chain Analysis
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4.7 Porter's Five Forces Analysis
- 4.7.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers
- 4.7.2 Bargaining Power of Consumers
- 4.7.3 Threat of New Entrants
- 4.7.4 Threat of Substitutes Products and Services
- 4.7.5 Intensity of Competitive Rivalry
5. MARKET SEGMENTATION
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5.1 By Process
- 5.1.1 Cryogenic Distillation
- 5.1.2 Non-cryogenic Distillation
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5.2 By Gas
- 5.2.1 Nitrogen
- 5.2.2 Oxygen
- 5.2.3 Argon
- 5.2.4 Other Gases
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5.3 By End User
- 5.3.1 Oil and Gas Industry
- 5.3.2 Iron and Steel Industry
- 5.3.3 Chemical Industry
- 5.3.4 Other End Users
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5.4 By Geography
- 5.4.1 United Kingdom
- 5.4.2 Germany
- 5.4.3 France
- 5.4.4 Italy
- 5.4.5 Rest of Europe
6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE
- 6.1 Mergers and Acquisitions, Joint Ventures, Collaborations, and Agreements
- 6.2 Strategies Adopted by Leading Players
- 6.3 Market Share Analysis
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6.4 Company Profiles
- 6.4.1 Air Liquide SA
- 6.4.2 Linde PLC
- 6.4.3 Enerflex Ltd
- 6.4.4 Air Products & Chemicals Inc.
- 6.4.5 Messer Group GmbH
- 6.4.6 Universal Industrial Plants Mfg. Co. Private Limited
- 6.4.7 Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
- 6.4.8 SIAD Macchine Impianti SpA
- 6.4.9 SOL SpA
- 6.4.10 Matheson Tri-Gas Europe GmbH
- *List Not Exhaustive
7. MARKET OPPORTUNITIES AND FUTURE TRENDS
** Subject To AvailablityEurope Air Separation Unit Industry Segmentation
Air separation units (ASU) are the devices used to extract gases, like nitrogen, oxygen, argon, etc., from the atmosphere through cryogenic distillation or non-cryogenic distillation.
The European air separation unit market is segmented by process, gas, end user, and geography. By process, the market is segmented into cryogenic distillation and non-cryogenic distillation. By gas, the market is segmented into nitrogen, oxygen, argon, and other gases. By end user, the market is categorized as chemical industry, oil and gas industry, iron and steel industry, and other end users. The report also covers the market size and forecasts for the air separation unit market across major countries. For each segment, the market sizing and forecasts have been done based on revenue (USD billion).
| By Process | Cryogenic Distillation |
| Non-cryogenic Distillation | |
| By Gas | Nitrogen |
| Oxygen | |
| Argon | |
| Other Gases | |
| By End User | Oil and Gas Industry |
| Iron and Steel Industry | |
| Chemical Industry | |
| Other End Users | |
| By Geography | United Kingdom |
| Germany | |
| France | |
| Italy | |
| Rest of Europe |
Europe Air Separation Unit Market Research FAQs
What is the current Europe Air Separation Unit Market size?
The Europe Air Separation Unit Market is projected to register a CAGR of greater than 3% during the forecast period (2024-2029)
Who are the key players in Europe Air Separation Unit Market?
Air Liquide SA , Linde PLC , SIAD Macchine Impianti SpA , Air Products & Chemicals, Inc. and Messer Group GmbH are the major companies operating in the Europe Air Separation Unit Market.
What years does this Europe Air Separation Unit Market cover?
The report covers the Europe Air Separation Unit Market historical market size for years: 2021, 2022 and 2023. The report also forecasts the Europe Air Separation Unit Market size for years: 2024, 2025, 2026, 2027, 2028 and 2029.
Europe Air Separation Unit Industry Report
Statistics for the 2024 Europe Air Separation Unit market share, size and revenue growth rate, created by Mordor Intelligence™ Industry Reports. Europe Air Separation Unit analysis includes a market forecast outlook 2029 and historical overview. Get a sample of this industry analysis as a free report PDF download.
