Air Liquide to invest over 350M USD to support steel industry and strengthen its footprint in Louisiana

PRESS RELEASE

Paris, April 22, 2026

Air Liquide to invest over 350M USD to support steel industry and strengthen its footprint in Louisiana

Air Liquide has entered into a long-term agreement to supply oxygen, nitrogen, and argon to HYUNDAI-POSCO Louisiana LLC (HPLS) for its landmark new low-carbon emissions steel facility in Louisiana. Thanks to this new infrastructure, the Group supports the development of localized, low-carbon production of critical materials for the U.S. market. This partnership underscores Air Liquide’s ability to accompany its customers in their global expansion, while contributing to the reshoring of America’s industry.

To support this partnership, Air Liquide will invest over 350 million US dollars to expand its production with an additional Air Separation Unit (ASU) in St. James Parish at the existing Koch Methanol facility as well as network infrastructures along the Mississippi River, further strengthening its industrial footprint and leadership in the region.

This strategic partnership marks Air Liquide’s first major agreement with HPLS in the United States, supporting its global expansion. By building and integrating high-efficiency gas supply solutions, Air Liquide ensures the industrial gases volumes essential for HPLS’s low-carbon steel production goals are met with industry-leading reliability. This project will also support additional methanol production at the Koch Methanol St. James facility under its Optimization Project, which is already underway.

Supporting the transition to low-carbon emission manufacturing, Air Liquide provides a high-efficiency supply model designed for scalability and seamless integration with advanced sustainable technologies. Its extensive pipeline infrastructure ensures the operational flexibility required for this next-generation facility, with supply expected to commence in 2028.

Matthieu Giard, Group Executive Committee member, notably in charge of supervising operations in the Americas, said: "This partnership with HPLS reflects Air Liquide’s commitment to supporting industrial decarbonization in the U.S. By leveraging our extensive Mississippi River infrastructure and high-efficiency technologies, we are delivering solutions that ensure both superior reliability and the flexibility required for HPLS's pioneering green steel production".

Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry said: ‘’Air Liquide’s investment sends a clear message — Louisiana is where companies come to grow and compete. They’ve been a strong partner in our state for years, and we’re proud to see them continue to expand and succeed right here. We’re going to keep doing the work to make sure businesses can move quickly, invest with confidence, and create real opportunity for the people of Louisiana.’’

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Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and many other essential small molecules are the invisible pillars of our world and our lives. They have been at the core of the Group’s activities since its creation in 1902.

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare, Air Liquide acts as the backbone of numerous economic sectors, serving 4.3 million customers and patients across 59 countries with approximately 65,000 employees. With revenues close to 27 billion euros in 2025, Air Liquide combines strong performance and useful growth.

The Group is a leader with a diversified, resilient business model and a strong local footprint across the globe. Through deep engineering expertise and technological innovation, Air Liquide provides scalable solutions that enhance industrial efficiency, accelerate decarbonization, and strengthen value chains. Strategically exposed to growth markets and megatrends, the Group accompanies major industrial and societal transformations to create long term added value and build a sustainable future.

Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50, FTSE4Good, and Dow Jones Best-in-Class Europe Index indexes.

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