Argon – Uses, Prices, and Production

This blog is the thirtieth in a series of blogs I plan to write providing use, price, and production data on high-use inorganic and organic chemicals.  Click here to see the first blog in this series and a list of chemicals to be featured.  This blog provides data on argon.  The primary purpose of these blogs is to present estimates of recent price, production, and sales revenues for the chemicals.  The last blog in this series will compare price, production, and sales revenues data for all the chemicals.  

Uses.  Uses of argon include: 

• As an inert shielding gas to prevent surfaces from reactions as they are heated;
• For insulation;
• In packaging to increase shelf lives of the package content;
• In scientific instrumentation; and
• As a filler in light bulbs. 

Prices.   Because argon is mostly sold in small-quantity sizes, bulk (metric ton) argon prices are not readily available.   

Using estimated 2019 global argon sales revenues found in marketing report information on the internet, which are in the $350 million to $450 million range, and an estimated 2019 global argon production in the 675,000 to 725,000 metric ton (mt) range, provides an estimated argon price range of $483 per mt to $667 per mt ($350 million divided by 725,000 mt; $450 million divided by 675,000 mt). 

Production.  Argon is produced by the fractional distillation of liquid air. 

From the internet, estimated 2019 global production of argon is in the 675,000 to 725,000 mt range.  

Argon 2019 global sales revenues are estimated to be in the $350 million to $450 million range.