Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary are emerging as key markets in East Europe, according to several European manufacturers of AdBlue. However, although many appear keen to establish a presence further east than Germany, opinions differ as to the benefit of pursuing the Eastern European market in the near term.

"In Serbia and Montenegro, OMV has six pump filling sites"

OMV, the Austrian oil company, was the first to open an AdBlue filling station anywhere in the world, and has since made Austria and Central Europe its focus, benefiting from its existing oil markets here and captive AdBlue supply from its AMI Agrolinz Melamine urea subsidiary in Linz. In Serbia and Montenegro alone, for example, OMV has six pump filling sites. It has established 130 supply points in 11 countries, mainly in Central Europe and plans to open more pump sites in the near future.

Netherlands-based Dureal is "extremely focused" on East Europe, company sources confirm, particularly on Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary. Talks are ongoing with oil companies and independent retailers in several countries. A first IBC has been supplied to the Czech Republic in recent week and potential customers in Serbia and Macedonia are also in talks with Dureal.

"The market will not really take off for the next two to three years"

German urea maker Stickstoffwerke Piesteritz (SKWP) sees fewer opportunity in the East European market in the short term. Although the company is working with potential partners in Poland and the Czech Republic, seeing the latter as the more active market, company sources say that the Euro 3 truck market still predominates in these countries, making it harder to find AdBlue supply partners. There are no incentives offered to boost the Euro 4/5 vehicle sales so the market will not really take off for the next two to three years, sources said.

Air1, GreenChem, BASF and Total are all present in or actively reviewing the market in East Europe from Austria to the Baltic states but have not identified areas of significant potential demand.