Welding Gas/ Shielding Gas Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2021-2031

The Global Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market is projected to expand from USD 4.33 Billion in 2025 to USD 6.47 Billion by 2031, registering a CAGR of 6.91%. These gases, which include pure elements and mixtures like argon, helium, and carbon dioxide, are essential for stabilizing electrical arcs and shielding molten metal from atmospheric contaminants during fabrication. Market growth is primarily driven by intense global industrialization and the enduring demands of the automotive and construction sectors, where high-integrity joining is critical for structural safety. Furthermore, the ongoing expansion of energy infrastructure, such as renewable energy installations and pipelines, mandates a consistent supply of these consumables for heavy manufacturing projects.

Conversely, the market encounters a major obstacle due to global economic volatility, which can suppress heavy industrial activity and lower raw material usage. A plateau in manufacturing output directly restricts the volume of welding consumables needed by end-users. As reported by the World Steel Association in October 2025, global steel demand is expected to remain flat compared to the previous year, settling at approximately 1.74 billion tonnes. This lack of growth in the primary application sector constitutes a significant barrier that could restrain the broader expansion of the welding gas market.

Market Drivers

The growth of global infrastructure and construction activities serves as a key driver for the welding gas market, creating substantial demand for argon and carbon dioxide in structural steel fabrication. As public and private entities fast-track development projects, the usage of welding consumables increases in direct correlation with construction output. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's 'Monthly Construction Spending, December 2024' report released in February 2025, the total value of construction put in place in the United States during 2024 reached $2.15 trillion, a 6.5% rise from the prior year. This increase in capital expenditure highlights the vital role of welding gases in supporting massive urbanization and engineering projects, ensuring the structural integrity of pipelines, bridges, and commercial buildings.

Simultaneously, the market is supported by escalating demand from the automotive and electric vehicle sectors, where high-precision shielding gases are crucial for joining lightweight materials and battery components. Manufacturers are increasingly dependent on advanced gas mixtures to shield molten metal from atmospheric contamination during automated production. The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) stated in its 'Economic and Market Report: Global and EU auto industry - Full year 2024', published in March 2025, that global car manufacturing reached 75.5 million units in 2024, providing a consistent foundation for gas consumption. Mirroring this industrial momentum, Lincoln Electric Holdings reported in its 'Third Quarter 2025 Results' in October 2025 that quarterly revenue hit $1.06 billion, a 7.9% year-over-year increase, signaling strong activity in the welding consumables and equipment ecosystem.

Market Challenges

Global economic volatility acts as a major restraint on the Global Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market by inducing stagnation in manufacturing output. Because welding gases are critical consumables in heavy industry, their demand is intrinsically linked to the operational volume of metal fabrication sectors. When economic instability results in reduced capital expenditure and delayed infrastructure projects, manufacturers curtail production, which directly lowers the consumption rate of shielding gases needed for arc stabilization and metal protection.

This correlation is supported by recent production data showing a slowdown in key industrial activities. In 2025, the Arab Iron and Steel Union reported a notable contraction in global crude steel production, which declined by 5.9% in October compared to the same month the previous year. This reduction in primary metal output indicates a broader deceleration across the manufacturing supply chain, effectively capping the potential volume of welding gas procurement. As industrial throughput weakens, the market for these essential gases faces a direct and unavoidable limitation in growth momentum.

Market Trends

The rise of Low-Emission and Sustainable Shielding Gases is fundamentally reshaping market dynamics as industrial consumers increasingly align their procurement with decarbonization strategies. Manufacturers are prioritizing the adoption of hydrogen-blended shielding solutions and carbon-neutral gas mixtures to reduce the environmental footprint of steelmaking and heavy fabrication processes. This shift compels major producers to secure long-term capital commitments for green energy infrastructure, ensuring a resilient supply chain for these advanced consumables. Emphasizing this strategic stability, Linde PLC reported in its '3Q25 Earnings Teleconference and Webcast' in October 2025 that its project backlog remained at $10 billion, highlighting sustained industrial demand for clean energy applications and reliable gas contracts despite broader economic uncertainties.

Concurrently, the transition to High-Pressure Lightweight Composite Cylinders is accelerating, addressing logistical inefficiencies linked to traditional heavy steel containment. Fabricators are migrating toward advanced composite vessels that provide superior portability and increased gas capacity, significantly lowering transportation costs and enhancing on-site handling safety for welders. This growing adoption of modern containment solutions is evident in the financial results of key packaging manufacturers. According to Worthington Enterprises' 'Q1 FY2026 Earnings Presentation' in September 2025, the Building Products segment, which includes advanced composite cylinder technologies, saw sales increase by 32% year-over-year to $185 million, driven by strong volume growth in its specialized containment portfolio.

Key Players Profiled in the Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market

• Air Products & Chemicals, Inc.
• The Linde Group
• Messer Group GmbH
• Iwatani Corporation
• Gulf Cryo
• Taiyo Nippon Sanso Corporation
• SIG Gases Berhad
• Air Liquide SA

Report Scope

In this report, the Global Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market has been segmented into the following categories:

Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market, by Type:

• Argon
• Carbon Dioxide
• Others

Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market, by Application:

• Gas Metal Arc Welding
• Tungsten Gas Arc Welding
• Others

Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market, by Storage:

• Cylinder & Packaged Gas Distribution
• Merchant Liquid/Bulk Distribution

Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market, by End User:

• Construction
• Energy
• Aerospace
• Metal Manufacturing & Fabrication
• Others

Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market, by Region:

• North America
• Europe
• Asia-Pacific
• South America
• Middle East & Africa

Competitive Landscape

Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in the Global Welding Gas and Shielding Gas Market.

Available Customization

The analyst offers customization according to your specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report:

• Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five).

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