(Archived) Praxair Announces U.S. Price Increases for Merchant Industrial Gases

DANBURY, CT., August 25, 2003 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) is raising prices between 8 and 12 percent for U.S. merchant hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, and helium customers through the elimination of discounts. The increase is necessary to offset the higher cost of energy including natural gas and electricity, as well as the rising costs of certain feedstocks.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2002 sales of $5.1 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technologies bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, chemicals, food and beverage, electronics, energy, healthcare, manufacturing, metals and others. More information on Praxair is available on the Internet at www.praxair.com.