Table of Contents

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1

2. INTRODUCTION 4
2.1 Definitions 5
2.2 Methodology 5
2.3 Abbreviations 5
2.4 Market Positioning 6
2.5 UK Economy 8
2.6 Market Factors 14

3. MARKET SIZE AND TRENDS 16
3.1 Chapter Summary 17
3.2 Market Size 18
3.3 Market Segmentation 19
3.4 Market Trends 21
3.5 Seasonality of Sales 25
3.6 Distribution 25

4. SUPPLY SOURCES 27
4.1 Chapter Summary 28
4.2 Production 28
4.2.1 Overview 28
4.2.2 Segmentation 29
4.3 Imports 30
4.3.1 Overview 30
4.3.2 Segmentation 31
4.4 Exports 32
4.4.1 Overview 32
4.4.2 Segmentation 33
4.5 Trade Deficit 34

5. INDUSTRY STRUCTURE 36
5.1 Chapter Summary 37
5.2 Industry Development 37
5.3 Structure by Employment 40
5.4 Structure by Turnover 40
5.5 Company Profiles 41
5.5.1 Air Liquide 41
5.5.2 Air Liquide (UK) 42
5.5.3 Air Products Group 44
5.5.4 Air Products (BR) 45
5.5.5 The BOC Group 47

6. FORECAST 49
6.1 Chapter Summary 50
6.2 Market Size 50
6.3 Market Segmentation 52
6.4 Production 53
6.5 Imports 54
6.6 Industry 55

7. FURTHER SOURCES & CONTACTS 57
7.1 Trade Association 58
7.2 Trade Magazines 59

List of Tables

1: Proportional Importance of UK chemicals Industry Sectors, 2006 7
2: UK Demand for Chemicals, by Sector, 2006 7
3: UK Market for Industrial Gases, 2003-2007 18
4: Segmentation of the UK Market for Industrial Gases, by Type, 2003-2007 19
5: The UK Chemicals Market Turnover, 2003-2007 22
6: UK Capital Expenditure by the Chemical Industry, 2002/03-2006/07 24
7: Forecast UK Capital Expenditure by the Chemical Industry, 2007/08-2011/12 25
8: Seasonality of Sales of Industrial Gases, 2003-2007 25
9: Chemical Distributors’ Share of the UK Chemical Market, 2007 26
10: UK Production of Industrial Gases, 2003-2007 29
11: Segmentation of the UK Production of Industrial Gases, by Type, 2003-2007 30
12: UK Imports of Industrial Gases, 2003-2007 31
13: Segmentation of UK Imports of Industrial Gases, by Type, 2003-2007 32
14: UK Exports of Industrial Gases, 2003-2007 33
15: Segmentation of UK Exports of Industrial Gases, by Type, 2003-2007 34
16: Total UK Trade Deficit in Industrial Gases, 2003-2007 35
17: Analysis of the Changes in the Structure of the Industrial Gases Manufacturing
Industry, 2003-2007 39
18: Analysis of the Employment Structure of the Industrial Gases Manufacturing Industry, 2006 and 2007 40
19: Analysis of the Financial Structure of the Industrial Gases Manufacturing Industry, 2006 and 2007 40
20: Financial Analysis of Air Liquide, 2002-2006 42
21: Key Financial Ratios for Air Liquide, 2002-2006 42
22: Financial Analysis of Air Liquide UK, 2002-2006 43
23: Key Financial Ratios for Air Liquide UK, 2002-2006 44
24: Financial Analysis of Air Products Group, 2002-2006 45
25: Key Financial Ratios for Air Products Group, 2002-2006 45
26: Financial Analysis of Air Products (BR), 2003-2007 46
27: Key Financial Ratios for Air Products (BR), 2003-2007 46
28: Financial Analysis of The BOC Group, 2002-2006 48
29: Key Financial Ratios for BOC Group, 2002-2006 48
30: Forecast UK Market for Chemicals, 2008-2012 51
31: Forecast UK Market for Industrial Gases, 2008-2012 52
32: Forecast Segmentation of the UK Market for Industrial Gases, by Type, 2008-2012 53
33: Forecast UK Production of Industrial Gases, 2008-2012 54
34: Forecast UK Imports of Industrial Gases, 2008-2012 54