Bitumen Commercial Invoice Template
Last updated: 2026-10-02
A standard bitumen commercial invoice template must contain 7 core fields: seller and buyer details, invoice number and date, HS code 2713.20 (petroleum bitumen), quantity in metric tons (MT), unit price in USD/MT, Incoterms (FOB/CIF/CFR), and payment terms. For a typical 1,000 MT FOB Rotterdam cargo at $485/MT, the invoice total is $485,000, with payment released against a Bill of Lading within 5–10 banking days. Missing any of these fields can delay customs clearance by 7–14 days or trigger a compliance hold.
What a Bitumen Commercial Invoice Must Contain (Field-by-Field)
A bitumen invoice is a trade finance and customs document, not just a billing note. Banks under UCP 600, customs authorities, and inspection agencies (SGS, Intertek) all read it. Every field must reconcile with the Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin, and Quality Certificate.
| Field | Example Entry | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| Invoice No. & Date | BIT-2024-0471 / 12-Mar-2024 | Must match LC and BL |
| Seller (Exporter) | [Refinery/Trader], UAE | Determines origin & sanctions screening |
| Buyer (Importer) | [Buyer Ltd.], Kenya | Consignee on BL |
| HS Code | 2713.20 | 6-digit code; national tariffs vary |
| Product Description | Penetration Grade Bitumen 60/70, ASTM D946 | Must match spec sheet |
| Quantity | 1,000.000 MT | Tolerance ±2% industry standard |
| Unit Price | USD 485.00 / MT | Cite Incoterm basis |
| Total Value | USD 485,000.00 | Words + figures |
| Incoterms 2020 | FOB Jebel Ali | Risk/cost transfer point |
| Payment Terms | 100% against scanned BL | LC or TT |
| Origin | United Arab Emirates | For tariff/duty calculation |
| Gross/Net Weight | 1,000.000 MT net | Drums, bulk, or flexitank detail |
Rule of thumb: the invoice value must never exceed the LC amount by more than 5%, or the bank will reject the document set.
Bitumen Pricing Basis: What to Put on the Invoice Line
Prices in bitumen trade are almost always quoted per metric ton, and the invoice must state the pricing basis clearly — fixed price, formula-linked, or provisional.
| Pricing Basis | Invoice Wording Example | When Used |
|---|---|---|
| Fixed price | "USD 485.00/MT fixed, firm" | Spot cargoes, quick deals |
| Formula-linked | "Avg of Platts Singapore + USD 42/MT premium" | Long-term supply |
| Provisional | "Provisional price, final per BL date quotation" | Volatile markets |
| Sliding scale | "Price subject to Q&Q at discharge port" | Bulk CIF cargoes |
Bitumen grades commonly invoiced include:
- Penetration grades: 40/50, 60/70, 80/100, 100/120 (ASTM D946 / EN 12591)
- Viscosity grades: VG-10, VG-30, VG-40 (IS 73, India)
- Performance grades: PG 64-22, PG 70-10 (AASHTO M320)
- Cutback & emulsion: MC-30, RC-250, CSS-1h
- Oxidized/blown: 85/25, 90/40, 115/15
Each grade changes the price. In Q1 2024, the spread between 60/70 and 80/100 in the Middle East was roughly $8–$15/MT.
Incoterms and Their Effect on Invoice Values
The Incoterm you invoice under changes the number on the page — sometimes by $120–$180/MT between FOB and DDP.
| Incoterm | Seller Pays | Buyer Pays | Typical Price Delta vs FOB |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOB | Loading port costs | Freight, insurance, duty | Baseline |
| CFR | + Ocean freight | Insurance, duty | +$45–$90/MT |
| CIF | + Freight + insurance | Duty, inland | +$55–$110/MT |
| DAP | + Freight to named place | Duty, unloading | +$95–$160/MT |
| DDP | Everything incl. duty | Nothing | +$130–$220/MT |
Practical example: a 1,000 MT 60/70 cargo at FOB Jebel Ali $485/MT becomes roughly $545/MT CIF Mombasa, making the invoice total $545,000 instead of $485,000. Freight (about $50/MT), insurance (0.3–0.5% of CIF value), and port charges explain the gap.
Compliance note: if an LC states "CIF" but the invoice says "FOB," banks treat it as a discrepancy. Match the Incoterm exactly.
Payment Terms, LC Compliance, and Common Invoice Discrepancies
Payment structure determines what appears in the invoice footer. The three common models:
| Payment Model | Invoice Wording | Risk Level |
|---|---|---|
| TT Advance | "100% prepayment before shipment" | Lowest risk for seller |
| LC at sight | "Payment at sight against complying documents" | Medium |
| LC 90 days | "Usance 90 days from BL date" | Higher for seller |
| Open account | "Net 30 from BL date" | Highest |
Documentary discrepancies are the #1 cause of payment delay in bitumen trade. The most common invoice errors:
- Quantity mismatch between invoice, BL, and packing list (>2% variance)
- Incoterm mismatch with the LC's stated trade term
- Description too vague — "bitumen" alone fails; specify "Penetration Grade 60/70, ASTM D946"
- HS code missing or wrong — under HS 2713.20, a wrong 6th digit reclassifies the product
- Late presentation — invoices presented later than 21 days after shipment often rejected
- Currency inconsistency — invoice in USD, LC in EUR
A single discrepancy can add 5–15 banking days to payment release and cost $50–$150 per document set in amendment fees.
How to Fill a Bitumen Invoice Template: Step-by-Step
1. Header: Seller's full legal name, registered address, tax/VAT number, and contact.
2. Invoice metadata: Unique invoice number, issue date, LC number if applicable, contract reference.
3. Buyer block: Legal name, address, delivery address if different, tax ID for customs.
4. Cargo block: Grade, spec standard (ASTM/EN/IS), quantity in MT to 3 decimals, number of drums/flexitanks.
5. Pricing block: Unit price, currency, Incoterm + named port, total value in figures and words.
6. Shipping block: Vessel name, BL number and date, loading port, discharge port, ETD/ETA.
7. Payment block: Terms, bank details (SWIFT/IBAN), beneficiary name matching invoice seller.
8. Certification: "We certify this invoice is true and correct" plus signatory name and title.
Time to complete per cargo: 15–30 minutes for a trained operator, 2–4 hours if spec fields are disputed. Most exporters now run invoices through an ERP or trade platform to auto-populate 80% of fields from the sales contract.
FAQ: Bitumen Commercial Invoice Template
What is the HS code for bitumen on a commercial invoice?
Petroleum bitumen is classified under HS 2713.20 at the 6-digit level, covering petroleum bitumen and other residues. Some countries subdivide further (e.g., 2713.20.00 in the US), so always confirm the destination's national tariff line. The wrong 6th digit can raise duty rates or trigger an inspection hold.
What quantity tolerance is acceptable on a bitumen invoice?
Industry standard is ±2% on bulk and flexitank cargoes, and ±5% on drummed cargoes. The invoice quantity must stay within the BL and LC tolerance, or the bank will flag it as a discrepancy. Always state the tolerance explicitly, e.g., "1,000 MT ±2% at seller's option."
Should a bitumen invoice be in USD or local currency?
Most international bitumen trade is invoiced in USD, especially FOB/CIF cargoes from the Middle East, Singapore, and South Korea. Local-currency invoicing is common only in domestic or regional sales (e.g., INR in India, NGN in Nigeria). If the LC is in USD, invoice in USD — a currency switch is an automatic discrepancy.
Can I use one template for all bitumen grades?
Yes, but you must change the grade description and spec standard for each cargo — 60/70 (ASTM D946), VG-30 (IS 73), or PG 64-22 (AASHTO M320) are not interchangeable. A single template with dropdown spec fields works; a single static invoice does not. Regulators treat misdescribed grades as a compliance issue.
How long does it take for a bitumen invoice to clear bank scrutiny?
Under an LC at sight, document examination typically takes 5 banking days under UCP 600 rules. Clean document sets release payment within 5–10 banking days of BL presentation. Discrepant sets can take 15–30 days and may require buyer waiver or LC amendment.
Get Your Exact Cargo Cost Before You Draft the Invoice
Prices, freight, insurance, and duties vary by route and grade — the difference between a compliant, profitable invoice and a rejected one is in the numbers. Use the 6Tar cost calculator to price your bitumen cargo end-to-end: FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP, freight per MT, insurance, and landed cost per ton. Run the calculation first, then drop the confirmed figures straight into your bitumen commercial invoice template and ship with confidence.