The industrial gas market - Italy

1.1 Definition and scope of study

The term industrial gas refers to a wide range of gases used in different processes and industries. The main products used for production include argon, oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen and carbon dioxide.

Due to their physical and chemical properties, natural gases are used in numerous industrial sectors, such as healthcare (therapeutic gases for anaesthesia, intensive care, pneumology, surgery, etc.), food processing (e.g. soft drinks), metallurgy, electronics, petrochemicals, etc.

The global industrial gas market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.5% from 2020 to 2027. The market is driven by increasing urbanization and industrialization coupled with growing application of industrial gases in various sectors. Asia Pacific was the largest region in the global market, accounting for 41% of the market in 2019, followed by North America with 24% of the global industrial gas market.

In Italy, natural gas contributed more than one-third of national demand due to its large use in the residential, tertiary and industrial sectors. Since 2016, total gross natural gas consumption in Italy has grown by 14%. In particular, natural gas consumption in the thermoelectric sector has grown by 23%.

The global industrial gas market is expected to decline by -0.9% in 2020 due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The decline is mainly due to the economic slowdown in all countries. The market is expected to recover after the health emergency has passed. In addition, industrial gases have also been the subject of critical issues on industrial pollution, industrial waste management and environmental protection.