Argus analyst Bill Selesky initiated Linde with a Hold rating, saying that while the company should "benefit from significant Praxair merger synergies" over the next 3 years and from increased demand for industrial gases, he also expects the "specialty chemicals industry to face challenges from slower global economic growth in 2019." With the company's 2019 sales growth projections slowing from 2018 to 5%, the analyst believes that a neutral rating is appropriate.

Linde announced it has signed two agreements with China South Steel, a member of the China Baowu Steel Group Corporation, one of the world's largest steel enterprises. Linde has signed an agreement to de-captivate an air separation unit, or ASU, at China South Steel's plant in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province. Linde already owns and operates five on-site ASUs to supply industrial gases to China South Steel in Shaoguan and will now de-captivate and upgrade a sixth. The agreement brings Linde's total on-site production capacity in Shaoguan to approximately 130,000 cubic meters per hour. In addition to the de-captivation, Linde has extended its long-term agreement with China South Steel for the supply of industrial gases at Shaoguan. Linde's industrial gases complex also meets demand from Linde's local merchant customers.