Urea shortage threatens to paralyze South Korea's economy

Dearth of industrial material betrays nation's dependence on commodity imports

20211115 Urea 2

Trucks wait in a line to get urea at a service area in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, on Nov. 4. (Photo by Yonhap via Reuters) 

STEVEN BOROWIEC, Contributing writer

SEOUL -- A shortage of a little-known industrial material is threatening to cripple economic activity in South Korea, while sparking a conversation about the resource-poor country's reliance on outside sources for the items needed to maintain business as usual.

The item in question is a fluid called urea solution, which is used to cut emissions in diesel cars and to make agricultural fertilizer.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.