Bitumen Price in UAE Today
Last updated: 2026-09-30
Bitumen Price in UAE Today: Complete Market Guide (2026)
Bitumen price in UAE today ranges from $480 to $545 per metric ton FOB Jebel Ali, depending on grade, penetration, and volume. The benchmark 60/70 penetration grade is trading at approximately $510–$525 per MT ex-works Fujairah, while 80/100 grade sits at $495–$510 per MT. Bulk orders above 5,000 MT typically secure a 3–7% discount, bringing effective pricing to $475–$500 per MT for export-ready cargoes. The UAE remains one of the most competitively priced bitumen sources globally, second only to Iran and Bahrain in the Middle East region.
UAE Bitumen Price by Grade — Current Snapshot
The table below reflects ex-works / FOB pricing as of the current trading week. Prices are quoted in USD per metric ton and exclude drumming charges and freight.
| Grade | Price Range (USD/MT) | Typical Use | Price Trend (7-day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40/50 Penetration | $530 – $555 | Airport runways, heavy-duty highways | ▲ +1.2% |
| 60/70 Penetration | $510 – $525 | Road construction, asphalt paving | ▲ +0.8% |
| 80/100 Penetration | $495 – $510 | General paving, industrial coating | ▼ -0.5% |
| PG 64-22 (Performance) | $545 – $570 | High-temp highways (GCC standards) | ▲ +1.5% |
| Cutback Bitumen RC-250 | $620 – $660 | Prime coats, tack coats | ▼ -0.3% |
| Bitumen Emulsion SS-1 | $580 – $610 | Cold mix, surface dressing | Stable |
Key observation: Prices for 60/70 penetration grade — the workhorse of UAE road construction — have held a tight $15 band for the past 14 days, indicating stable refinery output from ADNOC and Fujairah-based blenders.
- Minimum order quantity (MOQ): typically 20 MT (1 flexitank or 1 container)
- Standard export packaging: new steel drums (181 kg net), polybags, or bulk vessel
- Drumming surcharge: $35–$45 per MT for 150–200 MT lots
- Flexitank surcharge: $15–$22 per MT for 20–24 MT lots
What Drives Bitumen Price in UAE Today?
UAE bitumen pricing is not random — it reacts to five primary drivers that traders monitor daily.
Bitumen is a heavy residue of crude distillation. When Brent moves $1/barrel, UAE bitumen prices shift approximately $6–$8 per MT within 5–7 days. With Brent currently trading in the $78–$84 range, the floor for 60/70 grade sits near $500/MT.
Iranian bitumen — often $25–$40 cheaper per MT — pressures UAE pricing, especially for buyers in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, sanctions-related payment friction pushes many buyers back to UAE suppliers who offer LC at sight and faster port clearance.
Fujairah is the world's #2 bunkering hub and a key bitumen blending point. Vessel availability directly impacts FOB pricing:
| Factor | Impact on Price | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Bunker fuel cost (VLSFO) | +$0.50/MT per $10 VLSFO rise | VLSFO at $585/MT |
| Vessel queue length | +$5–$15/MT if >5 days | 2–3 days (normal) |
| Flexitank availability | +$3–$8/MT if tight | Adequate |
| New drum supply | +$10–$20/MT in peak season | Stable |
UAE bitumen demand peaks October through March, when GCC and East African construction seasons align. Prices in Q4 2025 averaged $15–$25/MT higher than Q3 2025 lows. Current pricing sits mid-range, favoring buyers locking in Q2 2026 contracts.
For export buyers, FOB vs CIF spread can add $25–$90 per MT:
- Jebel Ali → Jebel Ali (local): nil
- Jebel Ali → Mumbai (India): +$28–$35/MT
- Jebel Ali → Mombasa (Kenya): +$55–$70/MT
- Jebel Ali → Lagos (Nigeria): +$75–$90/MT
UAE vs Global Bitumen Price Comparison
How does UAE pricing stack up? The table below compares FOB prices for 60/70 grade across major export hubs.
| Origin | Price (USD/MT FOB) | Lead Time | Payment Terms |
|---|---|---|---|
| UAE (Jebel Ali/Fujairah) | $510 – $525 | 5–10 days | LC, TT, CAD |
| Iran (Bandar Abbas) | $465 – $490 | 10–20 days | Restricted |
| Bahrain | $500 – $515 | 7–12 days | LC |
| Saudi Arabia | $515 – $535 | 10–15 days | LC, prepayment |
| South Korea | $540 – $565 | 20–30 days | LC |
| Singapore | $530 – $550 | 12–18 days | LC, TT |
Why UAE wins for most buyers:
- Fastest clearance in the Gulf (Jebel Ali ranks #1 in MEA for container throughput)
- No sanction risk — clean payment channels via Emirates NBD, ENBD, or Mashreq
- Grade consistency — ADNOC and Fujairah blenders meet ASTM D946 / EN 12591 specs
- Flexibility — you can buy 20 MT or 20,000 MT with the same paperwork
Today's Pricing Table: Full Breakdown
Here is the most detailed current price matrix for UAE bitumen, covering packaging, volume tiers, and incoterms.
| Volume Tier | 60/70 Grade (USD/MT) | Discount vs List | Incoterm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 – 100 MT | $510 – $525 | — | FOB Jebel Ali |
| 100 – 500 MT | $500 – $515 | 2% | FOB / CFR |
| 500 – 2,000 MT | $490 – $505 | 4% | CFR / CIF |
| 2,000 – 5,000 MT | $482 – $497 | 5.5% | CIF |
| 5,000+ MT (bulk vessel) | $475 – $490 | 7% | CIF / DAP |
Add-ons to factor into landed cost:
- Drumming: +$38/MT (new steel drums, 181 kg)
- Flexitank: +$18/MT (20–24 MT per flexitank)
- Polybag: +$12/MT (for hot-climate destinations)
- Inspection (SGS/Intertek): +$1.50/MT
- Port handling & THC: +$6–$9/MT
Realistic landed cost example — 200 MT to Kenya:
- Base: 200 MT × $505 = $101,000
- Drumming: 200 × $38 = $7,600
- Freight (Jebel Ali → Mombasa): $12,000
- Insurance & docs: $1,400
- Total: ~$122,000 → $610/MT landed
How to Get the Best Bitumen Price in UAE Today
Buyers who consistently get $20–$35/MT below market follow these five practices:
- Buy in flexitanks, not drums — saves $20/MT on packaging alone
- Negotiate CFR, not FOB — suppliers often have better freight rates than you
- Lock quarterly contracts — Q2 2026 pricing is currently 2.5% cheaper than spot
- Use a UAE-based trader with a refinery allocation — not a broker of a broker
- Pay via LC at sight — unlocks 1.5–3% discount vs TT
Avoid these cost traps:
- Accepting quotes without a grade certificate (ASTM D5, D36, D113)
- Ordering drums for long-sea routes (moisture ingress = rejected cargo)
- Missing the 5-day price validity window — UAE bitumen quotes expire fast
A cost calculator removes guesswork entirely — see the closing section.
FAQ: Bitumen Price in UAE Today
Q1: What is the bitumen price in UAE today per ton?
Today's benchmark for 60/70 penetration grade is $510–$525 per metric ton FOB Jebel Ali, while 80/100 grade trades at $495–$510 per MT. Bulk cargoes above 2,000 MT can secure pricing near $482–$497 per MT. Prices are valid for 5 business days from the date of quotation.
Q2: Which UAE port offers the cheapest bitumen export price?
Fujairah typically offers the lowest FOB prices — about $5–$10/MT below Jebel Ali — due to lower port charges and proximity to blending facilities. However, Jebel Ali offers faster container clearance and more frequent sailings to Africa and South Asia. Choose Fujairah for bulk vessel cargoes and Jebel Ali for container/flexitank shipments.
Q3: How much does shipping add to UAE bitumen prices?
Freight from UAE adds $28–$90 per MT depending on destination. For example, Jebel Ali to Mumbai costs about $30/MT, to Mombasa roughly $60/MT, and to Lagos up to $85/MT. Always compare CIF vs FOB quotes carefully, because suppliers sometimes inflate freight by 10–15%.
Q4: Is UAE bitumen cheaper than Iranian bitumen?
Iranian bitumen is $25–$40 per MT cheaper on paper, but sanctions-related payment blocks, insurance refusal, and long vessel queues erase that advantage. UAE bitumen offers clean LC terms, 5–10 day lead times, and zero sanction risk, making it the better total-cost choice for most international buyers in 2026.
Q5: How often do UAE bitumen prices change?
UAE bitumen prices are revised weekly, typically every Sunday or Monday, in line with Brent crude settlements and refinery output. Intra-week adjustments of $3–$8/MT occur when Brent moves more than $2/barrel in 48 hours. Always request a fresh quote rather than relying on last week's price sheet.
Calculate Your Exact Bitumen Landed Cost with 6Tar
Stop guessing whether today's bitumen price in UAE works for your project budget. The 6Tar cost calculator gives you instant, itemized landed-cost breakdowns — base price, drumming, freight, insurance, port charges, and duty — for any UAE origin port and destination worldwide.
What you get with 6Tar:
- Real-time FOB and CIF pricing for all penetration grades
- Automatic freight estimation across 400+ ports
- Volume discount modeling from 20 MT to 25,000 MT
- Export-ready quotation PDFs in under 60 seconds
👉 Open the 6Tar cost calculator now and lock in your bitumen budget before the next weekly price revision. In a market moving $5–$10/MT per week, the difference between a calculator and a guess is thousands of dollars per shipment.