CALGARY, Alta. — Canadian agricultural products provider Agrium Inc. has entered into an exclusive agreement to supply diesel exhaust fluid-grade prilled urea from its Texas-based nitrogen facility for the production of DEF with Old World Industries. 

Old World Industries is a privately-held manufacturer of antifreeze in the US which has “a leading role to establish DEF supply at a national level with its BlueDEF branded DEF,” according to officials. The tonnage supplied from the Texas facility will start from a small base and is expected to grow at a rapid rate over the next five to 10 years, say Agrium officials. 

DEF will be added to the exhaust gas of most heavy-duty diesel engines made after Jan. 1, 2010. This is in response to the Environmental Protection Agency mandate to reduce harmful NOX emissions from diesel engines by more than 90%. By using DEF, the NOX will be converted into innocuous nitrogen gas and water. The market for DEF across North America is expected to exceed 1.5 million tonnes of urea equivalent (1 billion gallons of DEF) by the year 2020.