Rentech Nitrogen, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Rentech Nitrogen Partners, L.P., and Yara North America Inc., diesel exhaust fluid producer, have entered into a long-term agreement for the exclusive rights to purchase and distribute the DEF produced
at the Rentech Nitrogen facility in East Dubuque, Ill., under Yara's Air1 brand.

Air1 DEF, a non-toxic solution that transforms NOx emissions from heavy-duty diesel-powered vehicles into water vapor and nitrogen, is the operating fluid used with SCR technology to comply with the EPA's 2010 emissions standards.

The agreement comes just ahead of Rentech Nitrogen's urea expansion and DEF build-out to be completed later this year. Under the agreement, Rentech Nitrogen will supply Yara with DEF from its urea liquor stream that meets the standards of ISO 22241 specifications and protects engine catalysts.

Rentech Nitrogen's plant location in northwestern Illinois will allow Yara to service targeted high-demand DEF markets in the Midwest, including Wisconsin, Illinois and Iowa. Additionally, the plant's location near major transportation arteries will allow Yara to supply DEF to the Rockies, other central U.S. states outside the Midwest, and Canada.

The agreement further demonstrates Yara's commitment to expanding its global production and distribution capabilities in line with domestic DEF market growth. In June, the company announced the opening of a DEF terminal in Bayonne, N.J., the most recent addition to Yara's coast-to-coast network of terminals throughout North America.