Air Liquide reported first-half net profit, group share, of €750 million, up 11.1% from last year. Earnings per share were €2.65 for the period, 10.4% higher than a year ago.

Group revenue totaled €7.11 billion for the first six months of 2011, representing an increase of 9.2% from the previous year. Excluding impact of currency and natural gas, on a comparable basis, group revenue grew 8.3%.

Benoît Potier, Chairman and CEO of the Air Liquide Group, said, "Business was sustained in the first half of 2011 and profits are up strongly. They reflect the positive momentum in our markets as well as the Group's ability to achieve a solid operating performance in an environment that was affected by world events, notably in Japan and the Middle-East. Assuming normal economic conditions, Air Liquide is confident in its ability to continue to generate steady growth of net profit in 2011."