TAMPA, FL - Yara North America Inc., a Diesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) producer, announced the opening of its new storage terminal in Houston, with the arrival of its first shipment of Air1 DEF from the company's plant in Sluskil, Netherlands. The storage facility will provide fleets and retail outlets throughout Texas as well as its bordering states with increased access to Air1 DEF, an operating fluid which America's diesel-powered vehicles equipped with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) technology rely upon to meet the EPA's 2010 heavy-duty engine and vehicle emissions standards to keep their engines running.

DEF demand in North America is expected to increase 30-fold by 2015 and DEF consumption in Texas alone is expected to reach 24.3 million gallons in the next three years, according to research and consulting firm, Integer Research, which specializes in DEF market analysis. Yara's Air1 Houston terminal is the latest addition to the company's global supply chain infrastructure. At capacity, the fully operational storage facility will hold one million gallons of Air1 DEF.

 "The Houston terminal opening is an important milestone as we continue to expand our global supply chain capabilities domestically to meet the growing demand for DEF in North America," said Chad Dombroski, Director of Air1 for Yara. "Our ability to accommodate the rapid growth of the U.S. DEF market is unmatched and the terminal opening is not only a testament of our ability to grow with market demand, but also reflects our ongoing commitment to ensuring that Air1 DEF is available where and when our customers need it," Dombroski continued.

The Houston terminal opening is just one of several major investments that Yara has made in 2011 to continue its expansion of the company's global production and distribution capabilities. Last month, Yara announced additional production capabilities at its facility in Sluiskil, Netherlands, the world's largest DEF production facility.