Recasts throughout with Q1 outlook, CEO quote and context

Feb 6 (Reuters) - Linde LIN.O, the world's largest industrial gases company, sees slightly slower earnings growth in the first quarter of 2025, citing unfavourable currency exchange effects.

The U.S.-German company, which supplies gases such as oxygen, nitrogen and hydrogen to factories and hospitals, expects the first quarter adjusted earnings per share to be in a range of $3.85 to $3.95, a 3% to 5% rise from the same period last year.

"As anticipated, global macro conditions have continued to weaken, especially foreign currency translation," CEO Sanjiv Lamba said in a statement.

Linde is seen as a bellwether for industrial production as it supplies gases for a range of customers in sectors including chemicals, manufacturing, steel-making, and food and beverages.

This diversified footprint can help the company cope with weakness in some end markets, as others can compensate for it. Linde has regularly beaten earnings estimates or raised its guidance in recent years.

The Woking Surrey-based company reported an 11% rise in its fourth quarter adjusted earnings per share to $3.97, ahead of analysts' mean estimate of $3.93 per share in an LSEG poll.

(Reporting by Dimitri Rhodes in Gdansk, editing by Milla Nissi)

((Dimitri.Rhodes@thomsonreuters.com;))