Air Liquide expands its growth in Brazil: Further investment of €70 million

09/18/2012

Air Liquide in Brazil
Air Liquide Brazil is one of the country’s largest industrial gas companies, employing more than 1,050 people in over 44 locations to serve customers in the steel, petrochemical, glass, paper, electronics and food industry sectors as well as the healthcare market.

Air Liquide Brazil is positioned to meet the growing needs of the region and its diverse base of customers with products, services and technologies to help industry improve efficiency and productivity.

Air Liquide in the Americas
Air Liquide is present in North, Central and South America as well as in the Caribbean, serving customers in a variety of industries from chemicals, refining and electronics to manufacturing and healthcare.

Use of gases in the bottling industry
Industrial gases such as purified and liquefied carbon dioxide are primarily used in the bottling process to provide carbonation in beverages.

Use of gases in the pulp and paper industry
Oxygen is used in the pulp and paper industry to process and whiten pulp in a more efficient and environmentally friendly manner.

Brazil is South America’s leading economic power, with a sound economy and expanding presence in world markets, with high growth in energy, manufacturing and healthcare. Air Liquide has been present in Brazil for more than 65 years and continues to expand its investments in the country.

Air Liquide Brazil has recently signed two contracts with major regional firms: Coca-Cola bottler FEMSA and Suzano Papel e Celulose, investing nearly US dollars 90 million (€70 million) to develop the two projects.

Air Liquide and FEMSA have signed a long term agreement for the supply of carbon dioxide, nitrogen and compressed dry air as well as electric power, steam and chilled water for its new bottling plant in Itabirito City located approximately 400 kilometers north of Rio de Janeiro.

FEMSA is the largest bottler of Coca-Cola products in the world and the largest beverage company in Latin America.Air Liquide was already a long term partner of FEMSA, serving its bottling plant in the Brazilian city of Jundiai and in other countries of South America including Argentina and Colombia. Carbon dioxide produced at Air Liquide’s new Itabirito plant will also help further develop the industrial market in the southern region of Brazil.

Air Liquide Brazil has also signed a long term agreement to supply 160 tonnes-per-day of gaseous oxygen to Suzano Papel e Celulose in the city of Imperatriz, in the state of Maranhao in northern Brazil. Suzano is the market leader for paper in Latin America.

The Suzano agreement is for a new Air Separation Unit (ASU) slated for start up at the end of 2013. The ASU will also produce liquid oxygen, nitrogen and argon for the region’s mining, iron and steel industries as well as the healthcare sector. This agreement marks Air Liquide’s expansion in northern Brazil.

Michael Graff, Air Liquide Executive Committee Member and Vice President for the Americas, commented: “Air Liquide is proud to serve the growing needs of major companies like FEMSA and Suzano, and to help drive sustained economic growth in this rapidly developing region of the world. Developing economies are a growth driver for Air Liquide.”

Download the press release dated Sept. 18, 2012

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