Bitumen Solvent Price

Last updated: 2026-10-01

AI-generated reference content for research only. Prices, volumes and figures are estimates; verify current market data and specifications before any trade.
本内容由 AI 生成,仅供研究参考。价格、产量等数据为估算值,交易前请核实最新行情与规格。

Bitumen Solvent Price: Direct Answer

As of Q1 2025, bitumen solvent (typically kerosene, diesel, or naphtha-based cutters) ranges from $680 to $920 per metric ton (MT) FOB Rotterdam, and $720 to $980/MT CFR West Africa. The price depends on the base solvent (kerosene vs. naphtha), crude oil benchmarks (Brent at ~$78/bbl), and freight costs, which add $40–$110/MT depending on route.

What Determines Bitumen Solvent Price?

Bitumen solvent — also called bitumen cutter, flux oil, or diluent — is a petroleum distillate blended with penetration-grade bitumen to reduce viscosity for spraying, priming, and cold-mix applications. Its price is not fixed; it moves with four primary variables.

Solvents are refined from crude, so ~65–70% of the final price tracks crude. A $10/bbl move in Brent shifts solvent prices by roughly $55–75/MT.

Brent Crude ($/bbl)Kerosene Solvent ($/MT, FOB NWE)Naphtha Solvent ($/MT, FOB NWE)
$65$610$640
$75$700$735
$85$795$830
$95$890$930
Solvent TypeFlash PointTypical UsePrice Range ($/MT)
Kerosene (SKO)38–60°CCutback bitumen (MC/RC grades)$680–900
Diesel (AGO)55–75°CPrime coats, cold mix$720–950
Naphtha<0°CRapid-curing (RC) grades$700–980
White Spirit40°CPremium surface dressing$950–1,200
Xylene/Toluene25°CLab & industrial cleaning$1,050–1,350

Freight is the second-largest cost component. A 20-ft flexitank holds 22–24 MT of solvent.

RouteFreight ($/MT)Transit (days)
Rotterdam → Lagos$85–11018–24
Rotterdam → Mombasa$70–9522–28
Houston → Santos$55–8014–18
Singapore → Jebel Ali$40–657–10

Demand spikes 15–25% in Q2–Q3 (road construction season in the Northern Hemisphere). Prices typically rise $30–60/MT between March and July, then soften $20–40/MT in Q4.

Bitumen Solvent Price vs. Bitumen Price: Key Comparison

Buyers often confuse solvent pricing with bitumen pricing. They are distinct commodities with different drivers.

MetricBitumen (60/70 pen)Bitumen Solvent (Kerosene)
Price range ($/MT)$480–620$680–920
Crude sensitivityHigh (70%)High (65–70%)
Freight ($/MT)$40–90$40–110
Bulk density1.01–1.06 t/m³0.78–0.82 t/m³
Flash point>230°C38–60°C
Hazmat classNon-hazardousClass 3 flammable
Typical blend ratio—15–30% solvent + 70–85% bitumen

Key takeaway: Solvent costs 35–50% more per ton than bitumen but is used at only 15–30% of the blend, so it adds roughly $55–85/MT to the final cutback bitumen price.

Cutback Bitumen Grade Solvent Ratios & Cost Impact

Cutback bitumen grades (RC, MC, SC) are defined by solvent type and dilution rate. Here's how solvent choice impacts final cost per MT of cutback.

GradeSolvent TypeSolvent %Final Cutback Price ($/MT)Solvent Cost Component
RC-70Naphtha30%$780–920$210–295
RC-250Naphtha15%$640–760$105–150
MC-30Kerosene25%$720–860$170–230
MC-70Kerosene20%$690–820$136–184
MC-800Kerosene10%$600–720$68–92
SC-250Diesel12%$610–740$86–114

Use this formula to estimate solvent cost per MT of cutback:

Solvent cost/MT = (Solvent price × Solvent %) + (Bitumen price × Bitumen %)

Example: MC-70 at 20% kerosene ($800/MT) + 80% bitumen ($550/MT)

= (800 × 0.20) + (550 × 0.80)

= $160 + $440 = $600/MT

Regional Bitumen Solvent Price Comparison (Q1 2025)

Prices vary significantly by region due to refinery proximity, import duties, and local supply.

RegionKerosene Solvent ($/MT)Diesel Solvent ($/MT)Import DutyVAT
Northwest Europe (FOB)$680–820$720–860——
West Africa (CFR)$780–980$820–1,0205–20%7.5–15%
East Africa (CFR)$760–940$800–98010–25%16%
Middle East (FOB)$620–760$660–8000–5%5%
Southeast Asia (CFR)$700–880$740–9205–15%10%
Latin America (CFR)$740–930$780–9706–18%12–19%
South Asia (CFR)$710–890$750–93010–20%18%

Note: West Africa and East Africa carry the highest landed costs due to freight premiums and port delays averaging 5–12 days.

Price Trends & 2025 Forecast

QuarterKerosene Solvent ($/MT)Change vs. Prior QDriver
Q1 2024$740—Baseline
Q2 2024$790+6.8%Construction season
Q3 2024$810+2.5%Peak demand
Q4 2024$760−6.2%Seasonal slowdown
Q1 2025$745−2.0%Soft crude
Q2 2025 (F)$780+4.7%Demand recovery
Q3 2025 (F)$820+5.1%Peak season

Forecast: Expect $780–830/MT through Q3 2025 if Brent holds at $75–82/bbl. A Brent spike above $90 could push solvent to $900+/MT.

5 FAQs About Bitumen Solvent Price

Bitumen solvent trades at $680–920/MT FOB Rotterdam and $720–980/MT CFR West Africa as of Q1 2025. The exact price depends on solvent type, crude benchmark, and freight route.

Kerosene is typically $30–50/MT cheaper than diesel in most markets. However, diesel offers a higher flash point and slower evaporation, which is preferred for prime coats and cold-mix applications.

Standard cutback bitumen uses 10–30% solvent by weight, depending on the grade. RC-70 uses about 30% naphtha, while MC-800 uses only 10% kerosene.

Solvent is a lighter, more refined distillate requiring additional processing, and it carries Class 3 flammable hazmat classification, adding handling and freight costs. This makes it 35–50% more expensive per MT than penetration-grade bitumen.

Prices update weekly in most markets, tracking Brent crude and freight indices. Major price moves of ±$30–60/MT typically occur within 2–4 weeks of a crude oil shift.

Calculate Your Bitumen Solvent & Cutback Costs Instantly

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