News / Seoul intervenes to divert box ship and ease Korean urea shortage

Vinalines Diamond: Credit Connie Jiang

South Korean intra-Asia carrier Sinokor Merchant Marine has diverted a containership to Ulsan to facilitate the delivery of much-needed urea from China.

Diesel-fuelled vehicles in South Korea are required by law to use urea as an additive to cut emissions and, currently, a shortage is so serious that the government is rationing supplies.

The urea shortage was instigated by China’s power restrictions on manufacturing, which restricted its output of fertiliser and, ultimately, led to China restricting urea exports.

Korea’s Ministry of Oceans and ...