Air Liquide's Q3 2024: A Tale of Resilience, Growth, and Investment

Air Liquide, a world leader in gases, technologies, and services for industry and healthcare, has once again demonstrated its resilience and growth potential in the third quarter of 2024. The company's solid performance, driven by a diversified business model and strategic investments, has positioned it for long-term success.

Air Liquide's diversified business model played a pivotal role in its solid performance during Q3 2024. The company's Gas & Services segment, representing 95% of its revenue, grew by 3.6% on a comparable basis. All activities within this segment contributed to the growth, with healthcare in particular increasing sharply by 9%. The Americas and Asia regions were particularly dynamic, with respective growth rates of 8% and 4%.

The energy transition and digital technology have emerged as key growth drivers for Air Liquide. The company's investment in the energy transition, particularly in bioenergy projects, has opened new avenues for growth. Additionally, the integration of digital technology and Artificial Intelligence has enhanced operational efficiency and created new revenue streams.

Air Liquide's investment decisions and backlog have contributed significantly to its solid performance and future growth prospects. The company's investment momentum was particularly strong in Q3 2024, with a record level of investment decisions amounting to 1.4 billion euros. Major projects in Large Industries and Electronics, along with a robust investment backlog of 4.2 billion euros, have set the stage for future growth.

Air Liquide's organizational simplification and transformation plan have also played a crucial role in its improved performance. The simplification of the Group organization, along with the execution of the transformation plan, has led to a record level of group efficiencies, reaching 353 million euros at the end of September. This, in turn, has contributed to a continued improvement of 100 basis points in the Group's operating margin, excluding the energy impact, since the beginning of the year.

In conclusion, Air Liquide's Q3 2024 performance is a testament to the company's resilience, growth potential, and strategic investments. The company's diversified business model, focus on the energy transition and digital technology, and effective organizational simplification have positioned it for long-term success. As Air Liquide continues to invest in growth opportunities and adapt to market needs, it remains well-positioned to capitalize on emerging trends and drive sustainable value for its stakeholders.