Oxygen market in Italy

Earlier Report Observations

New regulations effective from January 2018 banned the possession of expired oxygen cylinders and required producers to use only their own cylinders, raising quality standards and contributing to market growth, which reached 2 320 M m³ by 2019. In 2020, a significant surge in demand for home oxygen therapy during the COVID-19 pandemic led to supply disruptions, resulting in a slight market contraction to 2 280 M m³ despite coordinated efforts to secure deliveries.

Market volume peaked at 2 428 M m³ in 2021 before declining to 2 191 M m³ in 2022.

A legislative decree in December 2023 mandated that oxygen for therapeutic use be supplied exclusively through pharmacies, restricting distribution channels and driving a sharp drop to 1 681 M m³. Further regulatory updates in 2024, including AIFA's quality requirements and a ban on refilling third-party cylinders, continued to constrain the market, which fell to 1 407 M m³.

Production oxygen in Italy

In value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In 2020, Italy's oxygen production was valued at 313.3 million US dollars, marking a 2.1% decrease compared to the previous year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 36.1%, with an average annual decline of 13.8%. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 297.0 million US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 39.4%. In contrast, 2019 experienced the largest increase of 7.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Italy in value, 2017-2020, M $ US

In kind, 2017-2020, M m³

In 2020, Italy produced 2 299 million cubic meters of oxygen, reflecting a slight decrease of 1.6% from the previous year. From 2017 to 2020, production dropped by 37.6%, with an average annual reduction of 14.5%. The minimum volume was recorded in 2018 at 2 089 million cubic meters, which had the largest decline of 43.3%. Meanwhile, 2019 saw the largest increase of 11.8%.

Annual dynamics of production in Italy in kind, 2017-2020, M m³

Exports oxygen from Italy

Exports in kind, K m³

Following a two-year decline, Italy's oxygen exports to foreign markets rebounded. In 2020, exports reached 19 801 thousand cubic meters, representing an uptick of 11.6% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports decreased by 31.7%, with an average annual decline of 11.9%. The lowest volume was recorded in 2019 at 17 740 thousand cubic meters, which experienced the largest decline of 25.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

From 2017 to 2020, Slovenia, Austria, and Croatia were the primary markets for Italy's oxygen exports in volume terms. Slovenia accounted for 64.5% of exports, Austria for 15.3%, and Croatia for 7.5%, collectively making up 87.3% of total export flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Italy exported oxygen worth 7 997 thousand US dollars, a significant rise of 48.4% compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, exports increased by 40.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.9%. The lowest value was recorded in 2019 at 5 391 thousand US dollars, which saw the largest decline of 8.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Between 2017 and 2020, Slovenia, France, and Germany were the three principal markets for Italy's oxygen exports in value terms, together accounting for 52.2% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Italy in value, 2017-2020

Imports oxygen to Italy

Imports in kind, K m³

Market performance showed noticeable fluctuations during the period. Italy imported 719 thousand cubic meters of oxygen in 2020, marking a sharp decline of 66.8% relative to the prior year. The maximum volume was recorded in 2019 at 2 166 thousand cubic meters, which saw the largest increase of 165.5%. From the high in 2019 to the low in 2020, import volumes varied by a factor of three.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

From 2017 to 2020, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland consistently led Italy's oxygen imports in volume terms. Slovenia accounted for 39.5% of imports, the United Kingdom for 20.2%, and Switzerland for 16.7%, jointly representing 76.4% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Italy's imported oxygen volumes amounted to 456 thousand US dollars, which is 36.0% smaller compared to 2019. Over the 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 51.9%, with an average annual decline of 21.7%. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 41.6%, while the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 28.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout 2017 to 2020, Belgium, Germany, and Slovenia formed the core group of markets for Italy's oxygen imports in value terms. Belgium accounted for 41.4% of imports, Germany for 19.4%, and Slovenia for 11.9%, together representing 72.7% of total import flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Italy in value, 2017-2020