DEF Prices Projected to Jump at the Pump

(May 3, 2012) -- An increase in global demand for urea has propelled a price increase for diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) in North America, according to Integer Research.

While the average pump price has been steady for the past few months, a big uptick in bulk and tote pricing – as much as 21 cents a gallon -- is projected for first half of May,  Chris Goodfellow, emissions analyst at Integer, told Fleet Owner magazine.

He explained that worldwide agricultural demand for urea – the base chemical used to produce both DEF and crop fertilizer – is increasing because of better-than-expected moisture this growing season, he said.

That so far has not been reflected in prices at the pump because of lag time in retailers reassessing DEF prices based on market factors, he added. 

Integer also noted that 26 truck stops added bulk DEF facilities between March and April this year, bringing the total number of truck stops offering DEF at fuel islands to 477 across North America – including five in Canada – with 6,519 retail locations offering DEF in smaller packages, such as gallon jugs.