Bitumen Price in Tanzania Today
Last updated: 2026-10-01
Bitumen Price in Tanzania Today
Bitumen price in Tanzania today ranges between TZS 1,750,000 and TZS 2,250,000 per metric ton (USD 650–840/MT) for bulk drum shipments landed at the Port of Dar es Salaam, while retail quantities in 200kg drums sell for TZS 400,000–520,000 each. Penetration grade 60/70 — the most widely used grade for road construction in Tanzania — sits at the middle of this range at approximately USD 720–780 per MT CIF Dar es Salaam as of the latest market assessment. Prices exclude 18% VAT and vary by supplier origin (Iran, UAE, Singapore), order volume, and payment terms.
This guide breaks down today's pricing by grade, origin, and packaging, compares landed costs against regional markets, and explains what drives price movement in Tanzania's bitumen market.
Current Bitumen Price in Tanzania by Grade (Today)
Bitumen is not a single commodity — penetration grades behave like separate products with different supply chains and price spreads. Below is today's indicative pricing at the Port of Dar es Salaam for bulk CIF cargoes.
| Grade | Typical Use in Tanzania | Price (USD/MT, CIF Dar) | Price (TZS/MT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration 60/70 | Main trunk roads, TANROADS projects | 720–780 | 1,940,000–2,100,000 |
| Penetration 80/100 | Rural roads, lower-traffic pavements | 700–760 | 1,890,000–2,050,000 |
| Penetration 40/50 | Heavy-duty highways, airports | 760–840 | 2,050,000–2,270,000 |
| Cutback MC-30 | Prime coats, cold weather work | 850–950 | 2,290,000–2,560,000 |
| Emulsion CSS-1h | Tack coats, surface dressing | 780–880 | 2,100,000–2,370,000 |
Key observations:
- The spread between 60/70 and 80/100 is only USD 15–25/MT, so grade substitution rarely drives major procurement decisions.
- Cutback and emulsion grades carry a 15–20% premium because they require additional processing and specialized handling.
- Prices above are CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight) — ex-tank Dar es Salaam, before inland transport.
Landed Cost Breakdown: What You Actually Pay
The FOB price on a supplier's quote is never your final cost. Here's how a USD 680/MT FOB Bandar Abbas cargo to Dar es Salaam actually prices out:
| Cost Component | USD/MT | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FOB price (Bandar Abbas) | 680 | Base product cost |
| Ocean freight to Dar es Salaam | 55–75 | Depends on vessel size, routing |
| Marine insurance | 3–5 | ~0.5% of CIF value |
| CIF Dar es Salaam | 740–760 | Customs value basis |
| Import duty | 0–10% | Varies by HS code classification |
| VAT | 18% | Recoverable for registered businesses |
| Port charges & THC | 12–18 | Terminal handling, documentation |
| Clearing & forwarding | 8–12 | Agent fees, TBS inspection |
| Landed ex-tank Dar | 775–810 | Before inland transport |
| Inland delivery (to Dodoma) | 60–90 | 450 km by truck |
| Inland delivery (to Mwanza) | 120–160 | 1,100 km by truck |
Practical takeaway: Budget USD 775–815/MT landed at Dar es Salaam for a 500 MT bulk cargo of 60/70. If your supplier quotes below USD 700/MT CIF, verify the origin and quality certificates — abnormally low quotes usually signal rebranded or off-spec material.
Tanzania vs Regional Bitumen Prices (Today)
Tanzania is a net importer with no domestic refinery producing penetration-grade bitumen at scale. That makes regional comparison essential for procurement benchmarking.
| Country / Port | 60/70 Price (USD/MT, CIF) | Key Difference vs Tanzania |
|---|---|---|
| Tanzania (Dar es Salaam) | 720–780 | Reference market |
| Kenya (Mombasa) | 710–770 | Slightly lower — larger volume, more suppliers |
| Uganda (via Mombasa) | 830–900 | +USD 100–120 inland transport premium |
| Rwanda (via Dar/Mombasa) | 870–950 | Double-landlocked premium |
| Zambia (via Dar es Salaam) | 850–920 | TAZARA/road corridor costs |
| DRC (Katanga, via Dar) | 900–990 | Longest corridor, highest friction |
| UAE (Jebel Ali, FOB) | 620–680 | Origin pricing — no freight included |
What this tells you:
- Dar es Salaam is competitive with Mombasa — the USD 10–20 gap reflects volume, not structural disadvantage.
- Landlocked neighbors pay USD 100–200/MT more than Tanzania does. If you're supplying Uganda, Rwanda, or DRC, your pricing must reflect corridor costs.
- Iranian and UAE origins dominate Tanzania's import mix, with Singapore and Bahrain supplying smaller volumes of specialty grades.
What Drives Bitumen Price in Tanzania Today
Understanding the five core drivers lets you anticipate price moves instead of reacting to them.
1. Crude oil benchmarks (Brent & Dubai)
Bitumen is a refinery residue — it tracks crude with a lag of 2–4 weeks. A USD 10/barrel move in Brent typically translates to a USD 25–35/MT shift in bitumen FOB pricing. As of today, Brent in the low-to-mid USD 70s keeps bitumen pricing moderate.
2. Freight rates and vessel availability
Ocean freight from Bandar Abbas or Jebel Ali to Dar es Salaam currently runs USD 55–75/MT for 3,000–5,000 MT parcels. During peak construction season (June–October) or when vessel availability tightens, this can spike to USD 90–110/MT.
3. Tanzanian shilling exchange rate
Almost all bitumen is priced in USD, but local buyers pay in TZS. A 5% TZS depreciation against USD adds roughly TZS 95,000–105,000 per MT to the local-currency cost with no change in the dollar price. Monitor the BOT reference rate before locking any TZS-denominated contract.
4. Seasonality — Tanzania's construction calendar
Demand peaks June through October (dry season, active road works) and troughs March through May (long rains). Smart buyers build inventory in Q1 when supplier competition is fiercest and prices soften by 3–6%.
5. Government infrastructure spending
TANROADS and TARURA road programs set baseline demand. When government tenders open, spot prices in Dar es Salaam can firm by USD 20–40/MT within weeks as traders position stock.
How to Buy Bitumen in Tanzania: Practical Checklist
Whether you're a contractor, a trader, or a government supplier, follow this sequence to avoid the three most common mistakes (paying VAT you could recover, buying off-spec material, or locking a price at the seasonal peak).
Before you order:
- Verify the supplier's TBS certification. Bitumen sold in Tanzania should meet TBS standards for penetration, softening point, and ductility. Ask for third-party lab reports (SGS, Intertek) per batch.
- Confirm the grade matches the specification. TANROADS projects almost always specify 60/70; substituting 80/100 can trigger rejection at site.
- Check origin documentation. Iranian-origin cargoes arrive with different documentation than UAE or Singapore cargoes — make sure your clearing agent understands the paperwork.
When you negotiate:
- Order in full parcels where possible. A 500 MT order commands USD 25–40/MT better pricing than a 100 MT order, because suppliers amortize freight and handling.
- Ask for CIF, not FOB. FOB quotes look cheaper but add freight, insurance, and coordination risk. CIF Dar es Salaam is the cleanest basis for comparison.
- Lock currency terms explicitly. If you're invoiced in USD but pay in TZS, agree on the exchange rate reference date (BOT rate on invoice date vs. payment date).
After arrival:
- Budget for port dwell time. Dar es Salaam clearing typically takes 7–14 days for bitumen if documentation is clean; add buffer for TBS sampling.
- Arrange inland transport early. Truck availability tightens during harvest season, pushing per-tonne delivery costs up by 10–15%.
FAQ: Bitumen Price in Tanzania Today
Q1: What is the current price of bitumen per ton in Tanzania?
Bitumen in Tanzania today costs between USD 720–780 per metric ton CIF Dar es Salaam for penetration grade 60/70, equivalent to roughly TZS 1,940,000–2,100,000 per ton. Landed ex-tank pricing after duty, port charges, and clearing adds USD 40–60 per MT. Retail drum purchases in smaller quantities carry a 15–25% premium over bulk rates.
Q2: Which bitumen grade is most commonly used in Tanzania?
Penetration grade 60/70 dominates Tanzania's market, accounting for roughly 70% of imports, because TANROADS standard specifications favor it for trunk road construction. Grade 80/100 is used for lower-traffic rural roads, while 40/50 is reserved for heavy-duty pavements and airport runways. Emulsion and cutback grades serve specialized surfacing applications.
Q3: Is bitumen cheaper in Tanzania or Kenya?
Kenya's Mombasa prices are marginally lower — typically USD 710–770/MT versus Tanzania's USD 720–780/MT — reflecting larger import volumes and more competing suppliers. However, for Tanzanian buyers the Dar es Salaam differential is often offset by lower inland transport costs. If you're supplying landlocked markets like Rwanda or DRC, the corridor economics usually favor whichever port has faster clearance.
Q4: How much does bitumen price change seasonally in Tanzania?
Bitumen prices in Tanzania typically soften 3–6% during February–April (long rains, low construction activity) and firm by 5–8% during June–October (peak road-building season). The swing amounts to roughly USD 40–60 per MT on a 60/70 grade. Buyers who build inventory in Q1 can capture meaningful savings on full-year procurement.
Q5: Does VAT apply to bitumen imports in Tanzania?
Yes — 18% VAT applies to bitumen imports, calculated on the CIF value plus import duty. However, VAT-registered businesses can recover input VAT, which effectively removes it from the true cost of goods. Import duty on bitumen varies by HS code classification, typically 0–10%. Always confirm the applicable code with your clearing agent before finalizing landed cost calculations.
Calculate Your Exact Bitumen Cost with 6Tar
Quoted prices only get you halfway. The real number depends on your grade, volume, origin, corridor, currency, and payment terms — and that's where most procurement budgets go wrong.
Use the 6Tar cost calculator to get a line-by-line landed cost for any bitumen order into Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, or DRC — including freight, duty, VAT, port handling, and inland delivery. No spreadsheets, no guesswork, no surprise costs at the port.
→ Run your numbers now on the 6Tar cost calculator and lock in today's pricing before the next market move.
Prices quoted are indicative as of today's market assessment and subject to change with crude benchmarks, freight rates, and exchange movements. Always confirm final terms with your supplier and clearing agent before contracting.