- Business
- Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. engages in the manufacture and supply of industrial gases and related equipment and services. Its core products include atmospheric gases such as oxygen, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide; specialty gases like carbon monoxide and rare gases including neon, krypton, and xenon; process and specialty chemicals; and performance materials. The company also provides cryogenic and gas processing equipment for air separation, hydrocarbon recovery, natural gas liquefaction, and helium distribution. Key industries served include refining, chemicals, metals, electronics, manufacturing, healthcare, and food processing. Air Products operates in over 50 countries, with significant market presence in the United States, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and India. Founded in 1940 and headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, the company employs approximately 23,000 people globally.
Recent major changes include a strategic shift in 2025, where Air Products announced a return to its core industrial gases business after canceling several speculative clean energy projects, including sustainable aviation fuel, green hydrogen, and carbon monoxide projects. This shift resulted in a pre-tax charge of about $3.1 billion and a workforce reduction. In 2024, the company sold its liquefied natural gas (LNG) process technology and equipment business to Honeywell International for $1.81 billion to realign focus on core industrial gases and low-carbon hydrogen projects. Air Products is advancing its low-carbon hydrogen initiatives with significant investments and long-term supply agreements, including a 15-year deal to supply 70,000 tons of green hydrogen annually to TotalEnergies starting in 2030. It is currently organized into three segments: core industrial gases, NEOM & Darrow projects, and underperforming projects, aiming for margin improvement and earnings growth beyond 2026.
The company operates through several business segments including Industrial Gases, Performance Chemicals, and Equipment. Its product offerings encompass refinery hydrogen, atmospheric and specialty gases, gas separation and purification membranes, advanced coatings, adhesives, and epoxy additives. Air Products also provides integrated solutions for aluminum production and recycling, including oxygen-enhanced combustion systems and annealing. The company maintains a global footprint with sales distributed mainly across the Americas, Asia, and Europe, supported by pipeline, on-site production, and bulk delivery infrastructures. Air Products is recognized for its sustainability initiatives and has achieved top rankings for diversity and inclusion in the workplace.