(Archived) Praxair Announces Price Increase for Certain Cylinder Gases

DANBURY, Conn., April 28, 2005 — Praxair, Inc. (NYSE: PX) today announced it has notified its customers in the U.S. and Canada of price increases for certain pure gases and mixtures. The gases affected include ammonia, arsine, boron trifluoride, chlorine, ethylene oxide, cyanides, diborane, fluorine, hydrogen bromide, hydrogen chloride, hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen sulfide, phosphine and sulfur dioxide.

Praxair has completed a three-year program, including extensive security assessments throughout the corporation and implementation of security upgrades where necessary at Praxair’s manufacturing facilities. These reviews and upgrades were all in conformance with the additional security initiatives developed by industry associations such as the American Chemistry Council and the Compressed Gases Association. The price increases are necessary to help offset the increased costs associated with the secure handling, storage and distribution of these products. A minimum price increase of $50 (CAD$62) per cylinder will be imposed on these gases. In addition, Praxair will eliminate discounts offered for these products.

Praxair is the largest industrial gases company in North and South America, and one of the largest worldwide, with 2004 sales of $6.6 billion. The company produces, sells and distributes atmospheric and process gases, and high-performance surface coatings. Praxair products, services and technology bring productivity and environmental benefits to a wide variety of industries, including aerospace, food and beverage, healthcare, semiconductor materials, steel, chemicals and refining, metal fabrication, water treatment, glass and others. For more information, visit Praxair on the Internet at www.praxair.com