The World’s Largest Bitumen Exporting Countries

Bitumen, a vital material in the infrastructure industry, especially in road construction and waterproofing, plays a significant role in the global economy. The global bitumen market is dynamic and competitive, changing with economic developments and infrastructure projects worldwide. Based on data from Trade Map, the largest players in this market, by value and share of global export market, are as follows:

• United States: With a 36% market share and an export value of $86 million, the U.S. is known as the world’s largest bitumen exporter. Despite a relatively high average export price ($962 per ton), the country exports a significant volume (89 thousand tons), indicating high demand for its product.
• United Arab Emirates: The UAE is in second place with a 13% market share and an export value of $32 million. With an average price of $368 per ton and an export volume of 58 thousand tons, the UAE is a key player in the Middle East and beyond.
• Canada: With a 9.4% market share and an export value of $22 million, Canada holds the third position. Due to its large reserves of oil sands, Canada is a major producer and exporter of natural bitumen.
• Malaysia: With a 6.6% market share and an export value of $15 million, Malaysia ranks fourth. The average export price for its bitumen is $535 per ton, and its export volume is 29 thousand tons.
• South Africa: With a 5.1% market share and an export value of $14 million, South Africa is a significant bitumen exporter. The average price per ton of its exported bitumen is $694, and its export volume is 20 thousand tons.
• Belgium: With a 4.4% market share and an export value of $10 million, Belgium has secured a notable position in the market. The country has a very low average price of $69 per ton and exports a high volume of 151 thousand tons.
• United Kingdom: With a 4.4% market share and an export value of $5 million, the UK is also among the top exporting countries. With an average price of $108 per ton, it exports 52 thousand tons of bitumen.
• Indonesia: With a 2.2% market share and an export value of $5 million, Indonesia also plays a role in this market. This country has exported a very high volume of 188 thousand tons at a price of $31 per ton.
• Netherlands: With a 2% market share and an export value of $4.9 million, the Netherlands is on this list due to its very high average bitumen price ($2650 per ton). Its export volume is 1.8 thousand tons.
• Pakistan: This country has a 1.5% market share and an export value of $4.6 million. Pakistan’s average export price is $268 per ton, and its export volume is 13 thousand tons.
• Iran: Iran also ranks in this list with a 1.3% market share and an export value of $3 million. The average price of Iranian bitumen is $249 per ton, and its export volume is 12 thousand tons. It is worth noting that some news sources identify Iran as one of the largest bitumen exporters by weight (tonnage), primarily to Asian markets such as India and China.

Global Market Trends and Future Outlook

The global bitumen market is influenced by factors such as increasing urbanization, major infrastructure projects, and initiatives for developing transportation networks. The Asia-Pacific region is recognized as the largest consumer of bitumen due to its rapid urban development and massive infrastructure projects (such as China’s Belt and Road Initiative). Furthermore, technological innovations like the development of eco-friendly bio-based bitumen are shaping the future of the industry.