Forget the outer planets, the earth has its own gaseous giant in the form of L'Air Liquide. Also known as Air Liquide, the French company jockeys with Linde to be the world's largest industrial gas supplier. Its gases include argon, carbon dioxide, helium, hydrogen, nitrogen, and oxygen. Its industrial gases are used in the production processes of almost every major market, while medical gases such as oxygen are used by hospitals and other healthcare providers. Air Liquide has more than a hundred subsidiaries in 80 countries, with a clear strength in Europe. The company operates in the US through Air Liquide USA. In 2016 it bought US rival Airgas for $13.4 billion.