Bitumen Price in the Philippines Today
Last updated: 2026-10-03
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Bitumen Price in the Philippines Today
As of the latest market assessment, the bitumen price in the Philippines today ranges from USD 480 to USD 560 per metric ton (PHP 27,800–32,400/MT) for bulk CIF Manila deliveries, depending on grade (60/70, 80/100, PG 64-22), volume, and origin. Retail/pail quantities (drummed, 180 kg) trade at a 20–35% premium, landing between PHP 7,200 and PHP 8,900 per drum. These figures reflect ex-refinery Southeast Asian benchmarks plus freight, insurance, and 12% VAT, and move weekly with Brent crude and regional supply from Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan.
What Drives the Bitumen Price in the Philippines Today
The Philippines produces zero domestic bitumen — 100% of supply is imported. That single fact explains why local prices track three external variables far more than local demand.
| Price Driver | Weight in Final Cost | Current Status |
|---|---|---|
| Brent crude / vacuum residue spread | 45–55% | Elevated; residue tight |
| Ocean freight (Singapore/China → Manila) | 8–12% | USD 18–26/MT |
| Import duty + 12% VAT | 12–15% | Duty-free (ASEAN), VAT applies |
| Port, storage, trucking (Manila → provinces) | 7–10% | PHP 700–1,400/MT |
| Trader/distributor margin | 5–10% | Compressed in bulk tenders |
| FX rate (USD/PHP) | 5–8% | PHP 57–59/USD |
Key takeaway for buyers: a PHP 1.00 move in the USD/PHP rate shifts landed bitumen cost by roughly PHP 480–560 per metric ton — often more than a full month of crude price movement.
| Grade | Bulk Price (USD/MT) | Bulk Price (PHP/MT) | Typical Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60/70 penetration | 480–510 | 27,800–29,600 | Roads, DPWH projects |
| 80/100 penetration | 490–525 | 28,400–30,450 | Warm climates, overlays |
| PG 64-22 | 520–560 | 30,200–32,400 | High-traffic highways |
| Cutback MC-30 | 560–610 | 32,500–35,400 | Prime coats, tack coats |
| Emulsion CSS-1h | 480–540 | 27,800–31,300 | Cold mix, surface treatment |
Prices indicative for 500–5,000 MT parcels. Smaller lots (<200 MT) typically add USD 25–45/MT.
Bulk vs. Drummed vs. Retail: The Real Cost Gap
Contractors often ask why the price they pay at a local depot is so far above the "CIF Manila" number. The gap is structural, not profiteering.
| Purchase Format | Volume | Price per MT (PHP) | Premium vs. Bulk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk vessel/vessel parcel | 3,000–20,000 MT | 27,800–29,600 | Baseline |
| Bulk ISO tank / flexitank | 20–24 MT | 31,000–34,000 | +11–15% |
| Drummed (180 kg) ex-warehouse | 1–19 MT | 38,000–44,000 | +35–50% |
| Retail pail (20 kg) | <1 MT | 45,000–52,000 | +60–75% |
- Bulk buyers secure lowest cost but need 48–72 hours discharge time and port access in Manila, Cebu, or Davao.
- Flexitank shipments (20 MT) are the fastest-growing format — no port congestion risk, delivered in 5–9 days door-to-door.
- Drummed bitumen adds the cost of steel drums (PHP 2,800–3,400 each, usually non-returnable) plus repacking labor.
- Retail pails suit small road repairs, waterproofing, and roofing — where convenience outweighs a PHP 15,000+/MT penalty.
Rule of thumb: if your monthly consumption exceeds 80 MT, moving from drummed to flexitank or bulk typically saves PHP 700,000–1,200,000 per year.
Regional Price Differences Across the Philippines
Bitumen lands cheapest in Manila and gets progressively more expensive moving south and into island provinces. Freight and inter-island roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) charges drive the spread.
| Destination | Landed Price Range (PHP/MT, bulk) | Added Cost vs. Manila | Transit Time (from Manila) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metro Manila | 27,800–29,600 | Baseline | 1–2 days |
| Batangas / Cavite | 28,300–30,100 | +PHP 500 | 2–3 days |
| Cebu | 29,200–31,000 | +PHP 1,400 | 4–6 days |
| Davao | 29,600–31,500 | +PHP 1,900 | 6–8 days |
| Iloilo / Bacolod | 29,400–31,200 | +PHP 1,600 | 5–7 days |
| Cagayan de Oro | 29,500–31,300 | +PHP 1,700 | 6–8 days |
| Isolated islands (Palawan, Sulu) | 32,000–35,000 | +PHP 4,000+ | 8–14 days |
- RoRo container restrictions: tank containers above 24 MT gross are rejected on some routes — plan ISO tank sizing accordingly.
- Provincial storage is scarce. Most Visayas/Mindanao contractors buy just-in-time, paying spot premiums during DPWH project surges.
- Best strategy: consolidate purchases with Cebu or Davao importers who hold 200–500 MT stock, rather than importing small parcels directly.
Import Duty, Taxes, and Compliance Costs
For a landed-cost calculation, importers must layer these charges on top of the FOB price:
| Cost Component | Rate | Applied To |
|---|---|---|
| MFN import duty (bitumen, HS 2713.20) | 0% | FOB value |
| ASEAN-China/SK/KR FTA duty | 0% | FOB value |
| Value-Added Tax | 12% | CIF + duty + fees |
| Customs broker / documentation | PHP 8,000–18,000 per shipment | Per BOC entry |
| BOC inspection & BPS certification | PHP 15,000–40,000 | Per consignment |
| Port storage (if delayed >5 days) | PHP 40–90/MT/day | After free time |
| Bonded warehouse | PHP 350–600/MT/month | Ongoing |
- BPS (Bureau of Product Standards) import clearance for bitumen can add 3–7 working days — build this into project schedules.
- VAT is recoverable for VAT-registered contractors, but the cash-flow impact is real: on a 1,000 MT shipment, that's PHP 3.4–3.9 million tied up for 30–60 days.
- No anti-dumping duty currently applies to bitumen imports, but this is reviewed periodically — verify before tendering.
12-Month Price Trend and Forecast
| Period | Bulk 60/70 (PHP/MT) | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 (Jan–Mar) | 25,900–27,200 | — |
| Q2 (Apr–Jun) | 27,400–28,900 | +5.9% |
| Q3 (Jul–Sep) | 27,800–29,600 | +1.5% |
| Q4 (Oct–Dec, projected) | 28,500–30,800 | +3.2% |
| 12-month outlook | 29,000–31,500 | +6–8% |
Drivers for the coming 6 months:
- Brent crude projected at USD 78–88/bbl, keeping vacuum residue tight.
- Singapore refinery turnarounds in Q4 reduce regional supply by an estimated 8–12%.
- DPWH infrastructure budget of PHP 900+ billion sustains demand, especially for 60/70 and PG 64-22.
- Peso weakness magnifies any dollar-denominated price increase.
FAQ: Bitumen Price in the Philippines Today
Q1: What is the current price of bitumen per ton in the Philippines?
Bulk bitumen (60/70 grade) currently lands at PHP 27,800–29,600 per metric ton CIF Manila, while PG 64-22 runs PHP 30,200–32,400/MT. Smaller flexitank or drummed quantities cost 11–50% more depending on volume.
Q2: Why is bitumen more expensive in the Philippines than in Malaysia or Indonesia?
The Philippines imports 100% of its bitumen with no domestic refinery base, while Malaysia and Indonesia have local production that cuts out freight and import logistics. Add PHP 700–1,900/MT in inter-island shipping and the gap widens further outside Luzon.
Q3: How often do bitumen prices change in the Philippines?
Most traders re-quote weekly, with firm offers typically valid for 7 days. Prices can move PHP 400–900/MT within a single month when crude or FX shifts sharply.
Q4: Is it cheaper to import bitumen directly or buy from a local trader?
Direct importation makes sense above 800–1,000 MT per year — you save the 8–15% trader margin but absorb BOC, BPS, port, and FX risk. Below that volume, local traders or flexitank suppliers are more cost-effective once fixed costs are counted.
Q5: What is the cheapest grade of bitumen available in the Philippines?
Penetration grade 60/70 is typically the lowest-cost specification at PHP 27,800–29,600/MT, and it satisfies most DPWH Item 301–310 requirements. Emulsion and cutback grades cost more because of additional processing and solvent content.
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