"97% of Gas Stations Stock Vehicle Urea Solution"
The Ministry of Environment has stepped up once again to dispel concerns regarding the supply of automotive urea solution in South Korea.
As of the 11th, the Ministry of Environment announced that among 3,103 gas stations that disclosed their urea solution inventory through the Korea National Oil Corporation's oil information system Opinet, 97% (3,014 stations) were confirmed to have urea solution in stock.
On the 8th, the Ministry of Environment also explained that there is no problem with the supply of automotive urea solution, and that the company reported by foreign media to have reduced urea exports (Jungnong Group) is actually a chemical fertilizer company.
Following foreign media reports on the 7th that the Chinese government ordered some fertilizer companies to halt urea exports, anxiety has spread domestically that another "urea solution crisis" could occur again, as it did in 2021.
Urea solution is a catalyst used in diesel vehicle exhaust gas reduction devices. A shortage of urea solution can limit engine power or starting. In 2021, when China restricted exports of coal and coal-derived urea, a shortage of automotive urea solution occurred domestically. Due to fears that this "China-origin urea solution crisis" could recur, related stocks such as KG Chemical and Union showed an upward trend during trading on the 11th.
On the same day, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs also explained that even if China restricts urea exports, the impact on domestic fertilizer supply would be limited.
In November 2021, when the nationwide urea solution shortage continued, a vehicle was refilling urea solution at the Seoul Express Bus Terminal in Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by Mun Ho-nam munonam@
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