Bitumen / Asphalt
Overview
Global bitumen and asphalt spot prices are influenced by changing supply and demand fundamentals, VGO and crude prices. Argus is the only provider of global bitumen and asphalt spot prices assessed by a global team of reporters, based on market trade. Spot price coverage includes regional truck, rail and seaborne prices.
Latest bitumen / asphalt news
Browse the latest market moving news on the global bitumen and asphalt industry.
Germany's Heide refinery to undergo maintenance Sep-Oct
Germany's Heide refinery to undergo maintenance Sep-Oct
London, 17 July (Argus) — Klesch's 84,000 b/d Heide refinery in north Germany will undergo maintenance from 10 September to 8 October, impacting bitumen output, it has told customers. In an email seen by Argus , Klesch notified customers that its refinery will shut down one of its production units for a month, affecting bitumen production for September and October. It is unclear at this time if the maintenance will impact production of other products at the refinery. Market participants said Klesch will also slightly reduce its bitumen term volumes for certain customers and there will be no bitumen spot volume sales over the maintenance period. Klesch declined to comment. By Fenella Rhodes Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Italy's Ravenna bitumen plant in unplanned shutdown
Italy's Ravenna bitumen plant in unplanned shutdown
London, 17 July (Argus) — Alma Petroli, one of Italy's main bitumen producers, has shut its 550,000t/yr refinery in Ravenna, northeast Italy, because of an unexpected problem, halting bitumen production. Market participants said an issue with the refinery's crude distillation unit had caused the bitumen output halt, hitting production and supply of all grades. The likely duration of the shutdown is not yet known, although Italian market participants said Alma Petroli does not have high levels of bitumen storage capacity at Ravenna. Alma Petroli company officials declined to comment on the refinery's operational status. The firm has in recent years pushed up Ravenna's technical capacity for all oil products to 550,000 t/yr. Bitumen typically comprises of around 70pc of its total production, with the rest mainly comprised of middle distillates and small volumes of virgin naphtha. The refinery receives bitumen-rich Italian and regional crudes centered around the Adriatic. It is specifically designed to produce distilled bitumen in a straight-run refining process fed by asphaltene and naphthenic rich crude oils, according to the company. By Fenella Rhodes and Keyvan Hedvat Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Tighter supplies lift Singapore trucked bitumen prices
Tighter supplies lift Singapore trucked bitumen prices
Singapore, 11 July (Argus) — Trucked bitumen prices in Singapore have risen sharply since late June on the back of tighter availability, despite moderate demand from key export market Malaysia. Singapore-origin bitumen sold by tanker truck to Malaysia was priced at $480–500/t ex-refinery in the week to 11 July, up from $470–485/t ex-refinery the week before, according to Argus data. Prices stood at $424–440/t ex-refinery at the end of June. Malaysian bitumen demand has been supported by several projects taking place after the Hari Raya Haji holiday that are currently underway in the third quarter, coinciding with the release of the annual infrastructure budget. But market participants described demand as moderate, as many of the projects are small-scale road works focused on maintenance and paving. Some construction activity has also been disrupted by intermittent rain in key cities including Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur. Market participants said overall bitumen availability in Malaysia is ample, with steady supplies from Malacca, Tanjung Langsat and Port Klang. One major Malaysian refinery sold inconsistently over the past two weeks while blending new products, but buyers said supply has since stabilised. Limited availability from Singapore and relatively firm demand from key consumer Vietnam continue to support seaborne prices. Argus assessed fob Singapore ABX 1 prices at $430/t on 10 July, up from $395/t at the start of June. Singapore trucked bitumen cargoes typically command a $10–15/t premium to ABX 1 prices, but the premium widened to about $50–70/t in July. Traders in Malaysia expect increased supply relative to demand in the coming weeks, which they said could pressure trucked Singapore prices. Current offers from Singapore are limited to 1-3 truckloads per day — down from the usual 5-6 — but many Malaysian buyers are already not fully utilising their quotas, dealers said. By Chloe Choo Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
Paving Amazon road may spoil Brazil climate target
Paving Amazon road may spoil Brazil climate target
Sao Paulo, 8 July (Argus) — Brazil suspended the paving and reconstruction of the northern BR-319 highway, which would drive up deforestation and make it impossible for Brazil to meet its climate targets by 2050, according to the environment ministry. Reconstructing the highway would increased deforestation and generate 8bn metric tonnes (t) of CO2 by 2050, according to the environment ministry. This would run counter to Brazil's efforts to eliminate deforestation — both legal and illegal — by 2030, to meet its emissions reductions targets under the Paris climate agreement. A federal court decision from October 2024 allowed plans by former-president Jair Bolsonaro's administration to rebuild and pave BR-319 to move forward through a preliminary license. The federal court reassessed the case on 2 July, suspending the preliminary license for the second time. The first suspension dates back to July 2024, when a federal environmental court stopped the work under an argument of irreversible risks to the Amazon forest if the concession remained active. The 918km BR-319 connects the capitals of northern Amazonas and Rondonia states, Manaus and Porto Velho, both in the Amazon forest biome. While the preliminary license was in force, deforestation around the highway more than doubled, including in conservation areas, Brazilian climate network Observatorio do Clima said. An increase in deforestation could cut water supply to large cities in the center-south and reduce agriculture and cattle raising by interfering in the rainfall pattern, according to the ministry. It also added that 95pc of Amazon's deforestation happens within 5.5km of highways. Brazil's environmental watchdog Ibama has strengthened its monitoring in the BR-319 to prevent deforestation and other illegal practices in the surrounded areas. Ibama agents have seized tractors and power generators near Tapaua city, in Amazonas, which were used to support illegal activities in the Amazon forest, such as wood extraction. Ibama also applied R8mn ($1.46mn) in environmental fines and blocked access to 1,600 hectares (ha) of deforested areas to fight ongoing illegal activities, it said today. By João Curi Send comments and request more information at feedback@argusmedia.com Copyright © 2025. Argus Media group . All rights reserved.
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