Bitumen (also known as asphalt or mineral pitch) is a dark brown to black, highly viscous to semi-solid hydrocarbon material derived primarily as a residual product from the vacuum distillation of crude oil. It is composed mainly of high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, asphaltenes, resins, and oils. Bitumen is characterized by its thermoplastic behavior, becoming soft and workable when heated and hardening upon cooling. It exhibits excellent waterproofing, adhesive, and binding properties, making it widely used in road construction and maintenance (as a binder in asphalt concrete), roofing, waterproofing membranes, and various industrial applications. Naturally occurring deposits (such as the Athabasca oil sands in Canada) also constitute a significant source of bitumen.
How About the Price?
Key Influence Events
Data source: UN Comtrade monthly trade statistics (https://comtradeapi.un.org/public/v1/preview/C/M/HS?period=202606&cmdCode=271320&partnerCode=0&flowCode=X&includeDesc=true) | Last updated: 2026-09-24
Price Trajectory, latest 12 months (2025-07 to 2026-06)
The monthly customs export unit value for HS 271320 moved from USD 431/ton in 2025-07 to USD 577/ton in 2026-06 (+33.9% across the window). The window high was USD 577/ton in 2026-06 and the low USD 334/ton in 2026-01. Three-month averages put the latest quarter +53.6% against the previous one, which is classified here as bullish.
The same panel reported USD 3,517.7 million of export value on 8,074,685 tonnes over the twelve months, an average of 672,890 tonnes a month. These are customs returns for the stated HS heading, so they capture the traded mix of that heading rather than a single quoted grade.
Supply-side factors
- Fixed reporting panel of 15 economies: AUS, BRA, CAN, CZE, DNK, DEU, HUN, IRL, MYS, POL, PRT, IND, SWE, GBR, USA. The panel is constant in every month of the window, so month-to-month movement is not a composition effect.
- Monthly unit value range over the window: USD 334 to USD 577/ton.
- Latest month, 2026-06: USD 577/ton, +0.7% against the previous month, on 656,042 tonnes.
Demand-side factors
- No recorded demand-side influence events as per the provided influence log data.
Related market pages on this site: Petroleum Coke, Crude Oil, Paraffin Wax market analysis.
Basis: these are customs unit values for the stated HS heading, not quoted spot, contract or assessed prices, and no paid price assessment is used or redistributed on this page. Every figure can be re-checked at the API links listed at the end of this page.
Top Countries Production Capacity
| Property | Typical Value / Range | Unit | Grade / Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration at 25°C | 10–20 | 0.1 mm | 10/20 (Hard Grade) |
| Penetration at 25°C | 30–45 | 0.1 mm | 35/50 (EN 12591) |
| Penetration at 25°C | 50–70 | 0.1 mm | 50/70 (EN 12591) |
| Penetration at 25°C | 70–100 | 0.1 mm | 70/100 (EN 12591) |
| Penetration at 25°C | 100–150 | 0.1 mm | 100/150 (EN 12591) |
| Penetration at 25°C | 160–220 | 0.1 mm | 160/220 (Soft Grade) |
| Softening Point (Ring & Ball) | 65–75 | °C | 10/20 Grade |
| Softening Point (Ring & Ball) | 46–54 | °C | 50/70 Grade |
| Softening Point (Ring & Ball) | 43–51 | °C | 70/100 Grade |
| Flash Point (Cleveland Open Cup) | ≥ 230 | °C | All paving grades |
| Solubility in Trichloroethylene | ≥ 99.0 | % by mass | All grades (EN 12591) |
| Kinematic Viscosity at 135°C | ≥ 370 | mm²/s | 50/70 Grade |
| Density at 25°C | 1.0–1.05 | g/cm³ | Typical paving grades |
| Loss on Heating (RTFOT) | ≤ 0.5 | % by mass | 50/70 Grade |
| Fraass Breaking Point | ≤ -8 | °C | 50/70 Grade |
| Penetration Grade (ASTM) | 60–70 | 0.1 mm | PG 64-22 (Superpave) |
| Performance Grade High Temp | 58–82 | °C | Superpave PG system (AASHTO M320) |
| Viscosity at 60°C | ≥ 2400 | Pa·s | VG-30 (IS 73, India) |
| Viscosity at 60°C | ≥ 3200 | Pa·s | VG-40 (IS 73, India) |
Data Sources
Price, volume and capacity figures on this page are computed from the public sources listed below; no subscription assessment data is used or redistributed.
- UN Comtrade monthly public trade statistics — HS 271320, exports, by month (2025-07 to 2026-06): 2025-07, 2025-08, 2025-09, 2025-10, 2025-11, 2025-12, 2026-01, 2026-02, 2026-03, 2026-04, 2026-05, 2026-06
- Fixed reporting panel for this series: AUS, BRA, CAN, CZE, DNK, DEU, HUN, IRL, MYS, POL, PRT, IND, SWE, GBR, USA. The exact API calls are the per-month links above.
Who are the Top Players?
| Company | Headquarters | Key Facilities |
|---|---|---|
| Shell plc | The Hague, Netherlands | Scotford AB, Canada, Norco LA, USA, St. Rose LA, USA, Pulau Bukom SG, Rheinland DE, Bahrain, UAE, Singapore, Tabangao PH |
| ExxonMobil Corporation | Spring, Texas, USA | Billings MT, USA, Joliet IL, USA, Strathcona AB, Canada, Nanticoke ON, Canada, Port-Jerome, France, Jurong Island, Singapore, Karlsruhe, Germany |
| Sinopec Group | Beijing, China | Xi'an Shaanxi, China, Jinling Shanghai, China, Anqing Anhui, China, Maoming Guangdong, China, Guangzhou Guangdong, China, Yanshan Hebei, China |
| SK Energy Co., Ltd. | Seoul, South Korea | Ulsan Ulsan, South Korea, Onsan Ulsan, South Korea, Dangjin Chungnam, South Korea, Yeosu Jeollanam-do, South Korea |
| Nynas AB | Stockholm, Sweden | Nynäshamn, Sweden, Gothenburg, Sweden, Eastham, United Kingdom |
| Ergon, Inc. | Jackson, Mississippi, USA | Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA |
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