Europe Air Separation Unit Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

Europe Air Separation Unit Market - Growth, Trends, Covid-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023 - 2028)

The air separation unit market in Europe is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 3.48% during the forecast period of 2020 – 2025. Major factors driving the market over the forecast period include the rising demand for industrial gases. To meet rising industrial gas demand, the demand for installation of an air separation unit that separates atmospheric air into three pure gaseous components of nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), and argon (Ar) is increasing. On the other hand, factors such as high energy consumption and high capital costs are likely to hinder the market growth during the forecast period.

Key Highlights

• The cryogenic distillation process is expected to hold the most significant market share in Europe, owing to its capability to produce highly pure industrial gases, such as nitrogen, oxygen, and argon, at a medium to high production rates.
• Growth in the infrastructure sector is likely to increase the demand for steel, thereby, creating huge opportunities for industrial gases in the near future.
• Germany is expected to dominate the market over the forecast period owing to the rising demand for industrial gases in different end-user industries.

Key Market TrendsCryogenic Distillation Segment to Dominate the Market

• Industries with complex process configuration, such as the refinery, iron & steel, and manufacturing industries, are expected to hold the most significant demand for cryogenic distillation-based air separation units during the forecast period, owing to its continuous requirement of 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.
• Cryogenic distillation-based air separation units (ASUs) are largely applied across the industries that either consumes large quantities of industrial gases (steel, refining, and petrochemicals) or require a multi-product supply, as they ensure a flexible and reliable supply for the 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 amount of product. Co-production of both products is deemed to be cost-effective, in terms of both capital and energy utilization, and it is expected to be in high demand during the forecast period.
• In April 2018, SIAD Macchine Impianti (MI) won a major order in Russia for supplying three cryogenic air separation units (ASUs), for the Amersky gas processing plant project in the Amur region. This project is anticipated to use the advanced and solid SIAD MI cryogenic technology designed to produce gaseous nitrogen. ​
• The LNG regasification process leads to the formation of natural gas, 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 as a promising alternative for utilizing the cold energy of LNG.
• Therefore, the increased focus by companies on business opportunities pertaining to LNG sector is likely to provide a big boost to the cryogenic distillation ASU market during the forecast period.

Germany to Dominate the Market

• The automotive industry in Germany is the nation’s largest industry sector and Europe’s number one automotive market. The country is home to 41 automobile assembly and engine production plants with a capacity of over one-third of total automobile production in Europe.
• German manufacturers are continuously expanding their foreign production capacity, attributed to the growing international demand for high-value, premium small- and compact-sized cars, and premium SUVs. Moreover, the country’s world-class R&D infrastructure, complete industry value chain integration, and highly qualified workforce have created an internationally peerless automotive environment.
• The automotive production requires industrial gases such as, nitrogen, argon, and oxygen etc. for welding and metal fabrication purposes. Hence, the increasing production of auto components is expected to increase the demand for air separation unit market, during the forecast period.
• The chemical and pharmaceutical industry is the country’s third-largest industrial sector, in terms of revenues. The industry constantly develops and improves new materials, as well as innovative inputs and end products. This technological and innovative lead is the secret success of the German chemical and pharmaceutical industry.
• Germany is the hub for industrial gases in Europe, with the headquarters of two major international companies, namely Linde and Messer. The country is leading the air separation unit market in the European region. The European Union have allocated a significant share of funds on infrastructure, ranging from 20% to 35%.
• In June 2019, Messer Group announced that it was investing around EUR 32 million in the oxygen, nitrogen, and argon production facility, which is being built for its customer, Saint-Gobain Isover G+H, in Speyer.
• Therefore, the rise in investments for infrastructural development gives a scope to the growth of industrial gases, which in turn, is expected to further escalate the air separation unit market demand soon.

Competitive Landscape

The Europe air separation unit market is moderately consolidated. Some of the key players include Air Liquide SA, Linde PLC, SIAD Macchine Impianti SpA, Air Products & Chemicals, Inc., and Messer Group GmbH.

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