Urgent plea to end panic buying of key trucking ingredient amid shortage

Panic buying of an essential product has sparked serious fears of what a potential looming shortage could mean for Aussies.

It’s the shortage that could grind Australia’s trucking industry to a halt, and now the federal government is pleading with industry not to hoard diminishing stocks of AdBlue.

Speaking to 2GB on Tuesday, federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan said it appeared some companies were buying more than they needed of the product, which was worsening shortages and creating price increases.

“We need to make sure … that normal supplies can continue so we don’t see that distortion in the market from some purchasing levels way beyond what they need,” Mr Tehan said.

He said the government was working with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to ensure companies did the right thing.

Federal Trade Minister Dan Tehan said the government was working to stop companies panic buying stocks of AdBlue. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Nicole Cleary

AdBlue – known as diesel exhaust fluid – is a liquid that sits in a separate tank on newer model diesel vehicles and is mixed into exhaust to reduce the level of harmful emissions.

A large number of Australia’s trucking fleet will not run without AdBlue unless significant illegal modifications are made to the vehicles.

A key ingredient in AdBlue is urea, which is in dangerously low supply around the world.

Newer model trucks and many other diesel engine vehicles will not run without AdBlue.

Earlier this month, trucking industry representatives expressed dire concern over the shortage and called on the federal government to take immediate action.

At the time, the expectations were that domestic stocks would last only until around the end of January.

The government this week announced plans to increase production of urea through a deal with local fertiliser manufacturer Incitec Pivot.

In addition, Australia will import 5000 tonnes of urea from Indonesia, equalling around a month’s worth of supply.

As well as scaling up domestic manufacturing capacity, the government is also looking overseas to Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Japan.

“All this will enable us to be able to make sure that supply continues,” Mr Tehan said.