Prices of cryogenic liquids have risen sharply.

2021-08-25 11:20

In 2017, prices of liquid gases (oxygen, nitrogen, and argon) all reached new highs not seen in recent years. At one point, prices changed daily, and in some cases, goods were available at quoted prices but simply couldn't be found. The main reasons behind this surge include the positive effects of supply-side reforms in the steel industry—such as capacity reductions, upgrades, and inventory destocking—which have led to increased steel prices and, consequently, higher production volumes at steel mills. As a result, the demand for oxygen, nitrogen, and argon used in ironmaking and steelmaking has risen sharply. Additionally, the crackdown on "strip steel" (produced using medium-frequency furnaces) has prompted many small steel mills to switch to electric arc furnaces or basic oxygen furnaces, both of which rely heavily on oxygen. Environmental policy considerations have also played a role, and a new wave of investment—in sectors such as photovoltaics, electronics, chemicals (including coal-to-chemicals), and stainless steel/specialty steels—has significantly boosted demand for these gases. 2

In 2017, prices of liquid gases (oxygen, nitrogen, and argon) all reached new highs not seen in recent years. At one point, prices changed daily, and in some cases, goods were available at quoted prices but simply couldn't be delivered. The main reasons behind this surge include the positive effects of supply-side reforms in the steel industry—such as capacity reduction, upgrading, and destocking—which led to higher steel prices and, consequently, increased production volumes at steel mills. As a result, the demand for oxygen, nitrogen, and argon used in ironmaking and steelmaking rose sharply. Additionally, the crackdown on "strip steel" (produced using medium-frequency furnaces) prompted many small steel mills to switch to electric arc furnaces or basic oxygen furnaces, both of which rely heavily on oxygen. Environmental regulations also played a role, while a new wave of investment—in sectors such as photovoltaics, electronics, chemicals (including coal-to-chemicals), and stainless steel/specialty steels—significantly boosted demand for these gases. Overall, China’s economy performed well in 2017, showing steady growth amid stability, driving overall expansion across various industries and contributing to a substantial increase in the demand for oxygen, nitrogen, and argon gases.