Bitumen Price in Saudi Arabia Today
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Bitumen Price in Saudi Arabia Today
As of Q1 2025, the benchmark bitumen price in Saudi Arabia today ranges between SAR 1,750 and SAR 2,050 per metric ton for penetration grade 60/70, depending on grade, volume, and delivery terms. In USD terms, this translates to approximately $465–$545 per MT FOB Jubail or Yanbu. Bulk buyers securing 5,000+ MT contracts from Aramco-authorized refineries typically land closer to SAR 1,720/MT ($458/MT), while spot buyers ordering under 500 MT pay a premium of 8–14%.
Current Bitumen Price Benchmarks in Saudi Arabia Today
Saudi Arabia is the largest bitumen producer in the Middle East, with Saudi Aramco controlling roughly 70% of domestic supply through its Riyadh, Yanbu, and Jubail refineries. Asphalt produced domestically specifies under the SASO 1394 standard and is graded primarily as 60/70 and 80/100 penetration.
| Grade | Ex-Refinery (SAR/MT) | FOB Jubail (USD/MT) | CIF Jeddah (USD/MT) | Bagged +20kg (SAR/MT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration 60/70 | 1,750 – 1,890 | 465 – 505 | 495 – 540 | 1,980 – 2,120 |
| Penetration 80/100 | 1,690 – 1,820 | 450 – 487 | 478 – 520 | 1,920 – 2,050 |
| Penetration 40/50 | 1,920 – 2,050 | 510 – 548 | 545 – 585 | 2,150 – 2,290 |
| Cutback RC-250 | 2,180 – 2,340 | 580 – 625 | 615 – 660 | — |
| Emulsion CSS-1 | 2,050 – 2,200 | 545 – 588 | 580 – 625 | — |
| Polymer Modified (PMB 40) | 2,450 – 2,680 | 655 – 715 | 695 – 760 | 2,680 – 2,890 |
Note: Prices are ex-VAT. Saudi domestic buyers add 15% VAT, while export buyers under customs drawback pay 0%. Freight from Jubail to Jeddah adds approximately SAR 85/MT, and to Dammam SAR 35/MT.
- Under 100 MT (spot): list price + 8–14% premium
- 100–500 MT: list price, standard payment terms
- 500–2,000 MT: 3–5% discount, 30-day credit
- 2,000–5,000 MT: 6–9% discount, 45-day credit
- 5,000+ MT (annual contract): 10–14% discount, up to 90-day credit
What Drives Bitumen Price in Saudi Arabia Today?
Three structural forces set the daily range.
Bitumen is a vacuum residue product, so its price tracks Arab Light crude with a lag of 10–14 days. For every $1/bbl move in Arab Light, Saudi bitumen prices shift by roughly SAR 9–11 per MT. With Arab Light hovering near $78/bbl in early 2025, this supports the current SAR 1,750+ floor.
Road construction in KSA peaks October–April when temperatures stay below 45°C. Demand during this window rises 25–35%, adding SAR 60–120/MT. Summer (June–August), asphalt plants in Riyadh and the Eastern Province run at 40–55% capacity, pushing prices down SAR 80–150/MT.
| Month | Typical Price Index (Base = 100) | Demand Level |
|---|---|---|
| January | 104 | High |
| April | 101 | Moderate |
| July | 92 | Low |
| October | 107 | Peak |
| December | 103 | High |
Saudi Ports Authority data shows Jubail handles 2.1 million MT of bitumen exports annually, while Jeddah handles 0.7 million MT. Bulk vessel freight from Jubail to:
- Jebel Ali (UAE): $18–$24/MT, 2 days transit
- Karachi (Pakistan): $38–$46/MT, 7 days
- Mombasa (Kenya): $55–$68/MT, 14 days
- Nhava Sheva (India): $32–$40/MT, 6 days
These freight bands are critical for CIF pricing and frequently explain why a buyer in Nairobi pays $610/MT while a buyer in Dubai pays $500/MT for identical material.
Saudi Bitumen vs. Regional Competitors
| Country | Origin Refinery | FOB Price (USD/MT) | Quality Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saudi Arabia | Aramco Jubail | 465 – 505 | 60/70 SASO |
| UAE | ADNOC Ruwais | 480 – 520 | 60/70 |
| Iran | Bandar Abbas | 415 – 445 | 60/70 (sanctions risk) |
| Iraq | Basrah | 435 – 470 | 40/50, 60/70 |
| Bahrain | BAPCO | 495 – 530 | 60/70 |
| Kuwait | KNPC | 490 – 525 | 60/70 |
Key insight: Iranian material undercuts Saudi by $50–$65/MT, but sanctions, insurance refusals, and payment friction push the effective landed cost within $15–$25/MT of Saudi product for most Asian and African buyers.
How to Calculate Your Landed Bitumen Cost
Landed cost = FOB price + freight + insurance + port charges + import duty + VAT − any duty drawback
Example for a 1,000 MT order shipped Jubail → Karachi:
- FOB Jubail 60/70: $480/MT = $480,000
- Ocean freight: $42/MT = $42,000
- Marine insurance (0.3%): $1,440
- Karachi port handling: $6/MT = $6,000
- Pakistan import duty at 11%: $52,800
- Total landed: $582,240 = $582.24/MT
This $102/MT delta between FOB and landed cost is why experienced traders always quote landed, not FOB.
FAQ: Bitumen Price in Saudi Arabia Today
Q1: What is the price of 60/70 bitumen in Saudi Arabia today?
60/70 penetration bitumen in Saudi Arabia today trades at SAR 1,750–1,890 per MT ex-refinery (approximately $465–$505/MT FOB Jubail). Volume buyers with 5,000+ MT annual contracts typically negotiate SAR 1,720/MT. Prices reset weekly based on Aramco's official selling price (OSP).
Q2: Is Saudi bitumen cheaper than UAE or Iranian bitumen?
Saudi bitumen is $15–$55/MT cheaper than UAE (ADNOC) but $50–$65/MT more expensive than Iranian origin at the FOB level. However, Iranian sanctions risk often closes the landed-cost gap to $15–$25/MT, making Saudi material the preferred choice for compliant buyers in Africa and South Asia.
Q3: How long does delivery from Jubail take?
From Jubail port, typical transit times are 2 days to Jebel Ali, 6 days to Nhava Sheva, 7 days to Karachi, and 14 days to Mombasa. Ex-refinery truck delivery within Saudi Arabia takes 2–5 days to Riyadh, Dammam, or Jeddah. Bulk vessel loading at Jubail takes 3–5 working days per 5,000 MT parcel.
Q4: Does Saudi bitumen price change daily or monthly?
Saudi Aramco issues its official selling price monthly, but the effective spot market moves weekly based on crude benchmarks and asphalt demand. Brokers typically requote every Monday. Contract indexed pricing (linked to Arab Light) updates daily.
Q5: What is the minimum order quantity (MOQ) for Saudi bitumen export?
Bulk vessel MOQ from Jubail is 1,000 MT (one ISO tank equivalent ≈ 20–24 MT; one flexitank ≈ 20–24 MT). For flexitank/container shipments, MOQ is 20 MT. Truck-load domestic delivery inside KSA starts at 20 MT.
Closing: Run Your Own Numbers with 6Tar's Cost Calculator
Bitumen pricing moves fast — crude benchmarks, Aramco OSP adjustments, freight swings, and monsoon-driven demand can shift your landed cost by $80–$120/MT within a single quarter.
Instead of chasing broker quotes, plug your parameters into the 6Tar Bitumen Cost Calculator and get an instant landed-cost breakdown for any Saudi origin, grade, volume, and destination port.
What the 6Tar calculator gives you:
- Real-time FOB references for Jubail, Yanbu, and Ras Tanura
- Automatic freight and insurance estimation across 40+ ports
- Duty and VAT logic for 28 importing countries
- Volume discount tiers applied to your order size
- Side-by-side comparison with UAE, Iran, and Iraq origins
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Data note: Prices reflect Q1 2025 market ranges and are indicative. For binding quotes, verify current Aramco OSP releases and confirm freight with your shipping line before contracting.