Oxygen: Liquefied oxygen recovery follows recovery of onsite oxygen

摘要

According to JIMGA(Japan Industrial and Medical Gases Association) data, 2017 oxygen sales were up 2.0% over the previous year to 1.627 billion m~3. Behind the increase is the recovery of onsite oxygen for iron and steel due to increased crude steel production and increased market demand for oxygen in electric furnaces and construction equipment. Shipments of liquefied oxygen are also on the rise, having hit bottom in 2014. Although recovery of packaged oxygen is slower than other forms, it is expected from 2018 onward due to demand for the Tokyo Olympics. Although recovery is seen in the market for liquefied oxygen, which has been in a slump for some time, demand is still only 70% of the peak demand, and the Japanese oxygen market seems to have been scaled down.