Air Liquide invests 200 million euros in Japan to support a leading semiconductor manufacturer in the production of next-generation AI chips

PRESS RELEASE

Paris, April 16, 2026

Air Liquide invests 200 million euros in Japan to support a leading semiconductor manufacturer in the production of next-generation AI chips

Under a new long-term agreement, Air Liquide will build, own and operate two new state-of-the-art industrial gas production units in Hiroshima, Japan, to support the major expansion of a global leader in the semiconductor industry. With a total investment of 200 million euros, these facilities will provide the industrial gases essential to produce cutting-edge chips, which are crucial to Artificial Intelligence technologies. By expanding its footprint in the country, the Group is enhancing Japan’s contribution to meeting the growing needs of the global semiconductor industry.

Set to begin operations by the end of 2028, Air Liquide’s production units will deliver large volumes of ultra-pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon to support the production of advanced chips. Ultra-high purity gases are essential for ensuring cleanliness and reliability throughout the semiconductor manufacturing process, thereby meeting the industry’s most stringent standards.

Air Liquide has been a major supplier to the Japanese semiconductor industry for over 40 years, with 78 facilities dedicated to Electronics activities, including one Advanced Materials Center in Tsukuba. To accelerate the development of new solutions, the Group relies on its Innovation Campus Tokyo, inaugurated in 2019, whose primary mission is to identify promising molecules to manufacture next-generation chips.

With this investment, Air Liquide reinforces its position as a leading partner to the semiconductor industry in Japan, and more broadly across Asia. By combining cutting-edge industrial solutions with long-lasting relationships with its customers, the Group is helping leading semiconductor manufacturers accelerate their capacity expansions, thus being a key enabler of the AI revolution.

Ronnie Chalmers, Air Liquide Group Vice President, in charge of supervising operations in Asia-Pacific, stated: "This new facility highlights Air Liquide’s ability to keep pace with our semiconductor customers’ rapid expansion and new investments to develop the next-generation chips which fuel technologies like AI. Japan has been a powerhouse in the semiconductor industry since the 1980s and remains a global technology leader today. Across the country, our experts deliver the high-tech solutions essential to meet the most rigorous standards of our customers in terms of quality, safety and reliability.”

Air Liquide in Japan

Air Liquide has been present in Japan since 1907, and has been contributing to the development of Japanese industries for over 100 years. Supported by a highly-skilled workforce of approximately 2,000 employees, the Group supplies key molecules to companies in electronics and other industrial fields, collaborating with our clients in problem solving and joint research.

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Oxygen, nitrogen, hydrogen, and many other essential small molecules are the invisible pillars of our world and our lives. They have been at the core of the Group’s activities since its creation in 1902.

A world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare, Air Liquide acts as the backbone of numerous economic sectors, serving 4.3 million customers and patients across 59 countries with approximately 65,000 employees. With revenues close to 27 billion euros in 2025, Air Liquide combines strong performance and useful growth.

The Group is a leader with a diversified, resilient business model and a strong local footprint across the globe. Through deep engineering expertise and technological innovation, Air Liquide provides scalable solutions that enhance industrial efficiency, accelerate decarbonization, and strengthen value chains. Strategically exposed to growth markets and megatrends, the Group accompanies major industrial and societal transformations to create long term added value and build a sustainable future.

Air Liquide is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange (compartment A) and belongs to the CAC 40, CAC 40 ESG, EURO STOXX 50, FTSE4Good, and Dow Jones Best-in-Class Europe Index indexes.

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