Praxair Inc. (NYSE: PX), Danbury, CT, reported sales for 2015 of $10.8 billion, a 12 percent decrease from 2014. Profit decreased 8.7 percent to $1.5 billion.
Sales for the fourth quarter were $2.6 billion, a 13 percent decrease from the same period a year ago. Profit for the quarter increased 39.7 percent to $422 million.
In North America, fourth-quarter sales were $1.4 billion, down 3 percent from the prior-year quarter excluding currency translation and cost pass-through. Organic sales growth from higher pricing and stronger volumes to refinery, food & beverage and healthcare customers was more than offset by weaker volumes in upstream energy, manufacturing and metals end-markets.
In Europe, fourth-quarter sales were $325 million, 9 percent below the prior-year quarter. In South America, sales decreased 37 percent to $299 million. Sales in Asia were $398 million in the quarter, 2 percent below the prior year quarter.
Praxair Surface Technologies had fourth-quarter sales of $152 million, down 7.9 percent from the prior-year quarter.
