Praxair, Inc. and Praxair Canada Inc. Announced Price Increases

Praxair Inc. and Praxair Canada Inc. notified industrial gas customers in the United States and Canada of price and facility fee/ monthly basic charges increases, effective Jan. 1, 2008, or as contracts permit.

The increases are as follows:

10 percent to 20 percent for nitrogen, oxygen, argon, hydrogen, and carbon dioxide.
15 percent to 30 percent for helium.
Up to 15 percent for facility fees/monthly basic charges.

Praxair said in a prepared statement that these actions are being implemented in response to escalating energy, logistics, and other operational costs as well as current supply/demand imbalances. Supply system capital and maintenance costs have also risen.

The companies said price adjustments may be higher or lower than these ranges where applicable.