AI Air Liquide SA

By James R. Hagerty 

Two of the world's biggest suppliers of medical oxygen, Air Liquide SA and Air Products & Chemicals Inc., say they are exploring ways to ensure supplies of the gas remain sufficient for treatment of Covid-19 patients.

Most of the anxiety over respiratory treatment during the coronavirus pandemic has centered on a shortage of ventilators. But respiratory therapists rely on purified medical oxygen delivered to patients through those devices. Supplying enough oxygen to meet soaring demand is critical and may prove complicated.

"Overall, we feel well-prepared" to meet that demand, said Diana Schillag, a vice president at Paris-based Air Liquide, which supplies medical gases in the U.S., Europe, Asia and elsewhere. "We have the logistics in place."

In Italy, Air Liquide said, it has been able to meet demand of as much as five times the normal level at some hospitals.

"Air Products is not currently experiencing production shortages in our businesses, including medical oxygen," said Art George, a spokesman for the Allentown, Pa., company. "Where we can around the world, we are building inventory."

Matthias Dachwald, a spokesman for a third global medical-gas supplier, Linde PLC, based in Guildford, England, declined to comment on the outlook for oxygen supplies.

Air Liquide and Air Products said they were looking at ways to avert bottlenecks. In Britain, for example, Mr. George said Air Products is working with the military to train drivers to deliver oxygen in case that becomes necessary.

Oxygen is delivered in bulk, liquid form to hospitals, where it is stored in tanks and converted to a gas for use in ventilators. It also is delivered in metal cylinders for use in homes or health-care facilities where patients need oxygen while moving around.

Air Liquide said it is urging customers to return empty cylinders more frequently so they can be refilled and sent where most needed. In addition, the company might seek regulatory approval to convert larger, heavier cylinders -- typically used for industrial gases -- for delivery of medical oxygen instead. The company also may ask for approval to extend the period between required tests of cylinders so more are available.

Meanwhile, medical-gas suppliers are installing new pipes to deliver oxygen to more beds in hospitals and in some cases to tents or other temporary care facilities. In Spain, Air Liquide said, it has deployed more than 100 people to work on increased oxygen-piping capacity. Some of those people are helping install oxygen pipes at a Madrid conference center being used as a temporary hospital.

The industrial- and medical-gas business is dominated by global giants. In 2018, Linde AG of Germany and Praxair Inc. of the U.S. merged to form Linde PLC. Air Liquide acquired U.S.-based Airgas Inc. in 2016.

Write to James R. Hagerty at bob.hagerty@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 26, 2020 08:03 ET (12:03 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.