Air Liquide 1st Half Profit, Revenue Rose Amid Higher Energy Prices; Backs 2022 Guidance

By Pierre Bertrand

Air Liquide SA said Thursday that profit and revenue rose in the first half, boosted by higher energy prices, and maintained its outlook for the rest of year.

The French industrial-gases company generated net profit of 1.31 billion euros ($1.34 billion) in the period, up from EUR1.24 billion a year earlier.

Revenue grew 31% to EUR14.21 billion from EUR10.85 billion as energy prices increased. Revenue at the gas and services unit--the company's biggest, generating 96% of group revenue--rose 31% to EUR13.6 billion. The performance of the unit so far this year was helped by growth across all of its geographic areas, led by Europe and the Middle East, followed by the Americas.

In the second quarter, revenue came in at EUR7.32 billion compared with EUR5.51 billion a year earlier. Analysts had anticipated second-quarter sales at EUR7.17 billion, according to a consensus estimate compiled by FactSet.

Looking ahead, the company said it is confident it will be able to further raise its operating margin and deliver recurring net profit growth at constant exchange rates.

Write to Pierre Bertrand at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

July 28, 2022 02:30 ET (06:30 GMT)

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