City Road Grade Bitumen
Last updated: 2026-10-01
City Road Grade Bitumen
City road grade bitumen is a penetration-grade or viscosity-grade paving bitumen engineered for urban streets, typically 60/70 pen (penetration) or PG 64-22 (performance grade). It is supplied in bulk at US$480–$620 per metric ton FOB (2024–2025 ranges) and is used at a typical dosage of 5.5–6.5% by weight of the asphalt mix for surface courses. A standard 20-ft container holds approximately 24–25 metric tons in drum or bulk form, and delivery from the Middle East or Asia to European or African ports takes 18–35 days depending on route.
What Is City Road Grade Bitumen?
City road grade bitumen is the binder that holds aggregate together in asphalt pavement for low-to-medium traffic urban roads. Unlike highway or airport grades, it prioritizes workability at lower compaction temperatures, resistance to rutting at stop-and-go traffic, and consistent grading because city paving crews often work in short night shifts with tight tolerances.
Key specifications that distinguish city road grade:
- Penetration at 25°C: 60–70 dmm (0.1 mm) for 60/70 pen grade
- Softening point: 49–56°C
- Viscosity at 135°C: 0.28–0.38 Pa·s
- Flash point: minimum 230°C
- Solubility in trichloroethylene: minimum 99.0%
- Ductility at 25°C: minimum 100 cm
These values come from standards such as ASTM D946 / AASHTO M20 (penetration grades) or AASHTO M320 (PG grades). For most municipal tenders, 60/70 penetration grade or PG 64-22 is the default specification.
City roads face a unique load pattern: high volumes of stopping, starting, and turning at intersections, bus stops, and roundabouts. This creates shear stress that a soft binder cannot handle at summer pavement temperatures of 50–60°C. At the same time, the binder must remain flexible enough in winter to resist cracking at surface temperatures down to –10°C in temperate zones. The 60/70 and PG 64-22 window sits in that balance point.
Bitumen Grade Comparison for City Roads
The table below compares the most common grades specified for urban road projects. Prices are indicative bulk FOB ranges as of late 2024 and vary by origin, packaging, and order volume.
| Grade | Standard | Penetration (25°C) | Softening Point | Typical Use | Indicative FOB Price (USD/MT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60/70 pen | ASTM D946 | 60–70 dmm | 49–56°C | City surface courses, intersections | 480–560 |
| 80/100 pen | ASTM D946 | 80–100 dmm | 45–52°C | Cold climates, base courses | 470–545 |
| PG 64-22 | AASHTO M320 | — | — | High-traffic urban arterials | 520–620 |
| PG 70-22 | AASHTO M320 | — | — | Heavy bus routes, hot climates | 550–650 |
| 40/50 pen | ASTM D946 | 40–50 dmm | 52–60°C | Harsh heat, slow traffic | 500–590 |
How to read this table: If your city has average July highs above 32°C and frequent bus traffic, PG 64-22 or 40/50 is safer than 60/70. If your winters drop below –5°C, 80/100 or a PG xx-28 grade prevents thermal cracking.
| Parameter | Typical Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Binder content (surface course) | 5.5–6.5% by mix weight | Marshall or Superpave design |
| Binder content (base course) | 4.5–5.5% | Larger aggregate, lower binder |
| Compaction temperature | 135–150°C | 60/70 grade |
| Mixing temperature | 150–165°C | Do not exceed 180°C |
| Tonnage per lane-km (50 mm lift) | 110–130 MT | 3.5 m lane width |
| Tonnage per lane-km (80 mm lift) | 175–210 MT | Base or binder course |
For a 1 km, two-lane city street with a 50 mm surface course, budget roughly 220–260 metric tons of asphalt mix, which contains 12–17 metric tons of bitumen. That is the number procurement teams should plug into a cost calculator before tendering.
Bulk Supply, Packaging, and Logistics
City road projects consume bitumen in bulk, and the packaging choice affects both cost and handling speed.
- Bulk in tankers: 25–30 MT per truck; lowest unit cost; requires heated storage tanks on site
- New steel drums: 150–180 kg net per drum; 24–25 MT per 20-ft container; standard for export
- Polymer-coated drums: adds 5–8% cost; recommended for humid or coastal destinations
- Bitutainers / jumbo bags: 1 MT each; good for smaller municipal contracts
Lead times and tonnage benchmarks:
| Order Size | Packaging | Container/Truck Count | Production + Loading | Sea Transit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 MT | Drums | 1 × 20-ft | 5–7 days | 18–35 days |
| 100 MT | Drums | 4 × 20-ft | 7–10 days | 18–35 days |
| 500 MT | Bulk/drums | 20 × 20-ft | 10–15 days | 18–35 days |
| 5,000 MT | Bulk vessel | 1 part cargo | 15–25 days | 20–40 days |
For municipal tenders requiring 500 MT or more, bulk vessel shipment from refineries in Iran, the UAE, or South Korea typically lands 8–12% cheaper per ton than drummed cargo, even after accounting for discharge equipment rental.
Every shipment of city road grade bitumen should arrive with a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and, ideally, a third-party inspection report (SGS, Intertek, or Bureau Veritas). The non-negotiable tests:
- Penetration at 25°C — verifies grade
- Softening point — verifies temperature susceptibility
- Ductility at 25°C — verifies binding flexibility
- Flash point — safety during heating
- Solubility — verifies purity and low filler contamination
Reject any lot where penetration deviates more than ±5 dmm from the specified midpoint.
Price Drivers and Cost Planning
Bitumen pricing for city road projects moves with crude oil benchmarks, shipping rates, and seasonal demand. Expect the following variables to shift your landed cost by 10–25% between quotation and delivery:
- Crude oil price (Brent): every US$10/bbl move shifts bitumen roughly US$40–55/MT
- Seasonality: Q2 and Q3 (paving season in the Northern Hemisphere) run 5–10% higher than Q4
- Freight rates: container rates from Jebel Ali or Bandar Abbas to West Africa can swing US$400–900 per 20-ft
- Packaging: drums add US$35–55/MT versus bulk
- Payment terms: LC at sight versus CAD can change pricing 1–3%
Landed cost example — 100 MT of 60/70 pen to Lagos, Nigeria:
| Cost Component | Amount (USD) |
|---|---|
| FOB price @ $510/MT | 51,000 |
| Ocean freight (4 × 20-ft) | 3,600 |
| Insurance (0.5%) | 255 |
| Port charges & clearing | 1,800 |
| Inland transport | 900 |
| Total landed | 57,555 |
| Landed cost per MT | ≈ $576 |
Run your own numbers against current quotes rather than relying on published averages — spreads between origins widen during freight spikes.
FAQ: City Road Grade Bitumen
Which bitumen grade is best for city roads?
60/70 penetration grade is the most widely specified for urban surface courses because it balances rutting resistance and workability. For hot climates or heavy bus traffic, PG 64-22 or 40/50 pen is a safer choice.
How much bitumen is needed per kilometer of city road?
A two-lane, 1 km street with a 50 mm surface course needs about 220–260 MT of asphalt mix, containing 12–17 MT of bitumen. Deeper lifts or wider roads scale this figure proportionally.
What is the price of city road grade bitumen in 2025?
Bulk FOB prices range from US$480 to US$620 per metric ton depending on grade, origin, and packaging. Landed costs in African or South Asian ports typically add US$55–90 per MT.
How long does shipping take for a 25 MT order?
Production and loading take 5–7 days, and sea transit runs 18–35 days depending on the route. Total door-to-door for a single container is usually 30–45 days.
What tests must city road bitumen pass?
At minimum: penetration at 25°C, softening point, ductility at 25°C, flash point, and solubility. Always demand a Certificate of Analysis and consider third-party inspection for orders above 100 MT.
Plan Your City Road Bitumen Order With 6Tar
Specify the right grade, confirm the tonnage, and lock in your landed cost before you commit. Use the 6Tar cost calculator to model FOB price, freight, insurance, port charges, and inland delivery for your exact destination — then request a quote with the COA and shipping schedule attached. Get your per-ton number in under two minutes.