Airgas, Inc. (NYSE: ARG), Radnor, PA, announced that beginning July 1, 2013, or as contracts permit, it will increase prices on bulk and packaged industrial, medical and specialty gases.
Prices will increase 6-12 percent on average, and will increase 10-15 percent on helium and argon. Welding hardgoods and safety products prices will increase by 3-6 percent, and delivery and other service fees will also be adjusted.
Cylinder and bulk tank rental rates will increase 6-12 percent. Some price adjustments may be outside of these ranges based on specific market conditions.
"We are responding to rising costs on multiple fronts, including product costs, labor and benefits and regulatory compliance. Further, lingering imbalances in supply and demand for some products are driving up production and distribution expense, while natural gas and power costs have begun to rise again," said Airgas President and Chief Executive Officer Michael Molinini. "We continue to mitigate rising costs by investing in our infrastructure and technologies in order to more efficiently serve our customers and further ensure the unmatched reliability of our supply chain and safety practices."
