Thanks to him, France already accounts for 15% of the global production of ultra

Air Liquide is set to invest 200 million euros in Japan to build two ultra-pure gas production units in Hiroshima for a planned start-up in 2028. These facilities will provide extremely pure nitrogen, oxygen, and argon necessary for manufacturing next-generation chips that power artificial intelligence models, data centers, and supercomputers.

Without these gases, no modern production chain can operate. Even a tiny impurity can ruin thousands of wafers in minutes. This makes it a critical bottleneck for the entire industrial chain that is controlled by a French company. The production of semiconductors requires an environment as clean as possible, and ultra-pure gases play a crucial role in cleaning surfaces, preventing chemical reactions, maintaining stable pressures, and protecting sensitive components.

The global market for ultra-pure gases is dominated by a few key players like Linde, Air Liquide, Air Products and Chemicals, Messer Group, and Matheson Tri-Gas. Two main actors hold nearly a third of the global market share, with the segment’s value expected to reach around 12.8 billion dollars by the end of the decade.

The semiconductor industry is witnessing significant growth, with the market expected to nearly triple from 1.033 trillion dollars in 2026 to over 3.1 trillion dollars in 2035. This growth is primarily driven by artificial intelligence, electric vehicles, and data centers. Air Liquide has also made strides in advanced materials used directly in chip manufacturing at the nanometric scale.

Air Liquide has strategically transformed its industrial strategy by collaborating closely with chip manufacturers to develop molecules tailored to future semiconductor generations, which could reach a global market value of around 157 billion dollars by 2033.

Air Liquide’s discrete but essential role in the semiconductor industry is becoming more prominent, especially as the demand for ultra-pure gases continues to rise. The company is poised to play a significant part in a market that is expected to triple by 2035 and is becoming increasingly crucial in modern geopolitical contexts.

[Context: Air Liquide’s investment in Japan for ultra-pure gas production highlights its crucial role in the semiconductor industry.] [Fact Check: The semiconductor market is expected to witness substantial growth in the coming years, driven by technological advancements and increasing demand for chips in various sectors.]