Bitumen Price per Ton 2026: Delivered to Site in Africa

In February 2026, bitumen was worth US$382 a tonne. In March, it was above US$607, according to data from the price agency Argus. In between, the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, which began in February, had closed the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil passes, and Brent had passed US$127 a barrel by the end of the month.

For a road contractor, this is a shock: bitumen is one of the largest costs of a road project. Here is where the price comes from, what is added on the way to the site, and where to buy bitumen in West Africa.

Why bitumen soared in 2026

Bitumen is what is left at the bottom of the refinery once gasoline, diesel and kerosene have been drawn from heavy crude. It therefore depends on two things: the price of crude, and the availability of the heavy crudes it is made from.

The Hormuz crisis hit both. Brent jumped, and Argus points to strained European refineries with lower bitumen yields. The tension affects both Europe and Africa, whose bitumen imports were forecast at 2.7 million tonnes in 2026. In the week of 2 October, Dated Brent still averaged US$123.52 a barrel.

What makes up the delivered price

The quoted price is only a starting point. On the way to the site, you add:

1. packaging: bulk in a heated vessel, heated containers, steel drums or bags. Bulk is cheapest per tonne but requires a heated depot on arrival; drums cost more, but can be stored and moved anywhere;
2. sea freight to the port of import;
3. port charges and duties in the importing country;
4. inland transport: insulated tankers for bulk, ordinary trucks for drums;
5. reheating and storage on site;
6. losses: bitumen left in drums, leaks, product that has cooled.

For a landlocked country such as Mali, Burkina Faso or Niger, inland transport can weigh as much as sea freight.

West Africa's only producer: Abidjan

The Société multinationale de bitumes (SMB) in Abidjan is West Africa's only bitumen refinery. It processes about 10,500 barrels a day of heavy crude from Latin America and produces up to 300,000 tonnes of bitumen a year. It supplies Côte d'Ivoire, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger, and exports to Nigeria, the region's largest market, and Ghana.

A few recent figures:

• in 2025, net profit of 13.1 billion CFA francs, up 50%, on revenue of 206.7 billion;
• in the first quarter of 2026, a five-yearly maintenance shutdown in February and March: bitumen sales fell to 45,400 tonnes, from 69,800 a year earlier;
• in August 2026, a four-year project to raise capacity to 400,000 tonnes a year and expand storage.

For the region's projects, this is an asset: bitumen produced a few hundred or thousand kilometres away, independent of the Strait of Hormuz. But when the refinery is down or demand exceeds its output, imports are needed.

The right grade

The grade is set by the works contract specification, not by the supplier:

• paving grade bitumen, classified by penetration under European standard EN 12591: 35/50, 50/70, 70/100; the lower the figure, the harder the bitumen;
• emulsions, mixes of bitumen and water, for tack coats and surface dressing;
• cutback bitumen, for priming.

Every delivery must come with a certificate of analysis matching the grade ordered.

Our view

The 2026 crisis was a reminder that West Africa's bitumen depends heavily on distant markets. Having a refinery in Abidjan is an advantage many regions lack, and its expansion is a step in the right direction. For a contractor, the lesson is simple: secure your bitumen before signing a fixed-price contract, and include a price adjustment clause linked to bitumen where the contract allows it.

Frequently asked questions

What is the price of bitumen per ton in 2026?

According to Argus, it rose from US$382 a tonne in February 2026 to above US$607 in March, as the Strait of Hormuz closed. The delivered price is higher: packaging, freight, duties and transport are added.

Who produces bitumen in West Africa?

The Société multinationale de bitumes in Abidjan, the region's only bitumen refinery, with a capacity of 300,000 tonnes a year.

What does 50/70 bitumen mean?

A paving grade bitumen whose penetration, measured under the standard, is between 50 and 70 tenths of a millimetre. The lower the figure, the harder the bitumen.

Is it better to buy bitumen in bulk or in drums?

Bulk is cheaper per tonne but requires a heated depot and insulated tankers. Drums cost more but suit small projects and remote sites.

Why did bitumen prices rise in 2026?

Because the closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed up crude and tightened refinery supply, in Europe as in Africa.

What we do

GraceRoad quotes bitumen delivered to site in West Africa, in bulk or in drums, to the grade in your specification, with certificate of analysis and transport to the site. Tell us the grade, quantity, location and project schedule.

Read next: project cargo in West Africa: oversized loads and West African refineries in 2026.

Sources: Argus, podcast "Strait of Hormuz Impact on Bitumen Markets", 8 May 2026 (February and March prices, African imports); Argus, 26 August 2026, on the SMB expansion project; Daba Finance, on SMB's 2025 and first quarter 2026 results and the Hormuz crisis; IATA, fuel index for the week ending 2 October 2026, for Dated Brent; European standard EN 12591, paving grade bitumens.