Australia's anti-monopoly body will allow producers of diesel exhaust fluid (DEF), also known as AdBlue, to collaborate on DEF supply given concerns about shortages stemming from constraints on refined urea feedstock availability.
The country's AdBlue manufacturers are seeking to share information and work together to develop solutions to any potential future shortages of refined urea as part of a coordinated Australian government and industry response to current global pressures on the supply of urea, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said.
"The ACCC's interim authorisation allows AdBlue manufacturers to cooperate in a number of ways without the risk of breaching competition laws," ACCC chair Rod Sims said.
The ACCC decision follows the formation of an AdBlue taskforce to address a potential shortage of DEF in Australia. The AdBlue taskforce has contributed to an agreement between the Australian government and fertilizer producer Incitec Pivot to increase supplies of refined urea for more DEF production.
The interim ruling does not allow AdBlue manufacturers to share information about or reach agreements on price, the ACCC said.
The commission will make a final ruling in either March or April 2022 on the collaboration between AdBlue manufacturers.
