July 31 (Reuters) – Linde, the world’s largest industrial gases company, said on Friday it had secured a new long-term agreement to supply ultra-high-purity industrial gases to one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers and would invest about $1 billion in Arizona.
As semiconductor manufacturers ramp up capacity to meet demand for AI and high-performance computing chips, investors are increasingly focused on whether Linde can translate its growing exposure to the sector into sustained earnings growth.
• The expansion will increase Linde’s supply of ultra-high-purity nitrogen, oxygen and argon to support two new semiconductor fabrication facilities
• Under the agreement, Linde will build, own and operate two new air separation units and associated infrastructure
• Linde’s Taiwan joint venture plans to invest about $800 million to supply industrial gases to the same customer’s new semiconductor facilities in Taiwan
(Reporting by Bartosz Dabrowski in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi-Prussak)
