AdBlue Shortage Impacts Diesel Vehicles Across North America and Europe
The shortage of raw materials and currently high energy costs are increasingly affecting the automotive industry and its customers. The ongoing semiconductor crisis remains a hot topic, with magnesium shortages in Europe affecting aluminum supply as a consequence. In Ukraine, production of electric vehicle cables was halted, revealing that much of it occurred there and triggering production suspensions at multiple car plants.
Now a new challenge is emerging: a shortage of urea for the production of AdBlue, the liquid used to treat diesel exhaust. Without AdBlue, many modern diesel engines cannot operate. Gasoline prices had already surged last autumn, and early AdBlue producers announced cuts in output. The trend continued in mid-March 2022, soon after the start of the conflict involving Ukraine.
AdBlue is used to scrub exhaust gases from diesel engines. Vehicles equipped with selective catalytic reduction SCR systems inject AdBlue into the exhaust stream, where the reaction converts nitrogen oxides and ammonia into harmless nitrogen and water vapor. This process reduces NOx emissions by about 90 percent. Diesel vehicles maintain a dedicated AdBlue tank that requires regular refilling. Typical consumption is one to two liters per thousand kilometers.
If the AdBlue level falls too low, the onboard computer issues warning alerts. When the tank runs completely dry, the engine may have to operate in an emergency mode.
What Is the Core Issue?
AdBlue is an aqueous solution containing 32.5 percent highly purified urea and 67.5 percent demineralized water. Urea forms in a chemical process from ammonia and carbon dioxide. Chemical suppliers such as BASF and SKW rely on natural gas to produce ammonia, and this dependency is at the heart of the current disruption. Elevated natural gas prices have led to reduced ammonia production, or in the case of SKW, a full halt since mid‑August, making AdBlue production unsustainable.
The problem is not limited to passenger cars. Construction machinery and ships also rely on urea-based exhaust treatment. Yet the most acute impact is felt in the truck sector, where AdBlue plays a crucial role in meeting emission standards. Suppliers and dealers are increasingly challenged to keep this essential additive in stock.