# Argon: Feedstocks

Why argon's real input is someone else's oxygen demand

Source page: https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/feedstocks/

Why argon's real input is someone else's oxygen demand What this tab covers What it is made from and what it feeds: the raw materials and energy per tonne with their share of cost (linked to the commodity table), who is low-cost and why, and the chemicals made from it.

Air is the only feedstock. The binding input is oxygen demand: argon is produced only when large ASUs run. Power is allocated across products, so argon's cost is an accounting choice and its price is set by scarcity.

#### Inputs per tonne

| Input | Quantity per tonne | Role | Share of cost | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| **Air** | about 78 t of air per t of argon (basis: 1.29% argon by mass) | argon source | zero | air composition |
| **Electricity** | allocated share of ASU power (indicative 0.3-0.6 MWh per t liquid) | separation and liquefaction | most of cash cost (indicative) | indicative |

#### Who is low-cost, and why

Not cost-driven: suppliers with large argon-equipped ASUs near steel and solar clusters (China, US Gulf Coast) are long; regions with idled ASUs are short. Bulk export argon from China was $675-695/t FOB in mid-2026 (Procurement Resource).

#### What it is made into

| Product | Note |
|---|---|
| [pSi Polysilicon](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/polysilicon/) | argon atmosphere for crystal pulling |
| [ESG Electronic specialty gases](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/electronic_gases/) | argon is a bulk fab gas |

## Other sections

- [Summary](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/index.md)
- [Overview](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/overview/index.md)
- [Correlation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/correlation/index.md)
- [Production route](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/routes/index.md)
- [Production](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/production/index.md)
- [Cycles](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/cycles/index.md)
- [Trading](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/trading/index.md)
- [Movement](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/movement/index.md)
- [Regulation](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/regulation/index.md)
- [Characteristics](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/characteristics/index.md)
- [Emissions](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/emissions/index.md)
- [Relationships](https://www.materialinsights.org/chemicals/argon/links/index.md)