Bitumen Price per Cubic Meter
Last updated: 2026-10-05
Bitumen Price per Cubic Meter
Bitumen is not sold by cubic meter in international trade — it is priced per metric ton. To convert, use the standard density of 1.01–1.06 tonnes/m³ for penetration-grade bitumen at 25°C, so a cubic meter equals roughly 1.03 tonnes on average. At a typical 2025 export price of $430–$520 per ton FOB (bulk, 60/70 pen), one cubic meter of bitumen costs approximately $443–$536. Packed in 150 kg steel drums or 1-tonne jumbo bags, add $35–$70 per ton for packaging and handling.
Why Bitumen Is Priced per Ton, Not per Cubic Meter
Bitumen is a highly viscous, temperature-sensitive liquid. Its volume changes with temperature (thermal expansion of ~0.0007 per °C), while its mass does not. That is why every refinery, trader, and shipping document — bills of lading, certificates of analysis, ASTM D946/D3381 specs — quotes bitumen in metric tons (MT).
When a buyer asks for "bitumen price per cubic meter," they usually need one of three things:
- A conversion from a per-ton quote to a per-m³ figure for budgeting or tank sizing
- A container or drum fill calculation for logistics planning
- A landed cost estimate per unit of volume at the destination port
The formula is simple:
Price per m³ = Price per ton × Density (tonnes/m³)
At 25°C, standard densities are:
| Bitumen Grade | Density (kg/m³) | Tonnes per m³ | m³ per Tonne |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40/50 pen | 1,030–1,040 | 1.035 | 0.966 |
| 60/70 pen | 1,010–1,030 | 1.020 | 0.980 |
| 80/100 pen | 1,010–1,020 | 1.015 | 0.985 |
| 85/100 pen | 1,010–1,020 | 1.015 | 0.985 |
| 160/220 pen | 1,000–1,010 | 1.005 | 0.995 |
| VG-30 (IS 73) | 1,020–1,030 | 1.025 | 0.976 |
| Oxidized 115/15 | 1,040–1,060 | 1.050 | 0.952 |
Key takeaway: for most commercial grades, 1 m³ ≈ 1.02 tonnes, and 1 tonne ≈ 0.98 m³.
Bitumen Price per Cubic Meter: 2025 Reference Table
The table below converts benchmark FOB export prices into per-cubic-meter equivalents using an average density of 1.02 t/m³. Bulk prices reflect vessel or flexitank shipments of 500–3,000 MT.
| Grade | Price per Ton (FOB, USD) | Price per m³ (USD) | Packing | Price per m³ Packed (USD) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60/70 penetration | $430–$480 | $439–$490 | Bulk | — |
| 60/70 penetration | $430–$480 | $439–$490 | 150 kg drums | $475–$540 |
| 80/100 penetration | $420–$470 | $428–$479 | Bulk | — |
| 80/100 penetration | $420–$470 | $428–$479 | Jumbo bags | $460–$520 |
| VG-30 | $450–$500 | $460–$510 | Bulk | — |
| VG-30 | $450–$500 | $460–$510 | Drums | $490–$560 |
| Oxidized 115/15 | $520–$620 | $546–$651 | Bulk | — |
| Cutback RC-250 | $480–$560 | $475–$554 | Drums | $510–$590 |
| Emulsion CSS-1 | $340–$420 | $343–$424 | Drums/IBC | $380–$470 |
Prices are indicative mid-2025 ranges, FOB Bandar Abbas / Jebel Ali / Singapore. Actual quotes vary by volume, payment terms, and destination.
- Crude oil benchmarks: Brent at $70–$85/bbl correlates to bulk bitumen at roughly $420–$500/MT.
- Grade premium: polymer-modified bitumen (PMB 40, PMB 70) adds 15–30% over penetration grades.
- Packaging: drums add $40–$60/MT; jumbo bags add $30–$50/MT; flexitanks add $25–$40/MT.
- Freight: a 20' container with 24–27 MT packed bitumen from the Gulf to West Africa costs $1,800–$3,200, i.e., $65–$120/MT.
- Seasonality: demand peaks in Q2 and Q3 (road construction season), lifting prices 5–12% versus Q4.
Conversion Math: From Tons to Cubic Meters and Back
Use these worked examples to check any supplier quote.
Example 1 — Bulk 60/70 pen
- Quote: $460/MT FOB
- Density: 1.02 t/m³
- Price per m³: 460 × 1.02 = $469.20/m³
- One 10,000 m³ heated tank holds: 10,000 × 1.02 = 10,200 MT, worth about $4.69 million
Example 2 — Drummed VG-30
- Quote: $505/MT FOB packed
- Density: 1.025 t/m³
- Price per m³: 505 × 1.025 = $517.63/m³
- A 20' container takes 80 drums × 150 kg = 12 MT (limited by weight, not volume)
Example 3 — Jumbo bagged 80/100
- Quote: $475/MT FOB packed
- Density: 1.015 t/m³
- Price per m³: 475 × 1.015 = $482.13/m³
- 1 jumbo bag = 1 MT = 0.985 m³
Quick formulas:
- Price/m³ = Price/MT × Density
- MT = m³ × Density
- m³ = MT ÷ Density
Per-Cubic-Meter Cost by Region and Delivery Basis
Landed cost per cubic meter depends heavily on freight and import duty. The table compares 60/70 penetration bitumen delivered in bulk, density 1.02 t/m³.
| Route | FOB ($/MT) | Freight ($/MT) | Duty/Tax | Landed ($/m³) | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iran → India (Nhava Sheva) | $445 | $55 | 5% + IGST | $537 | 8–12 days |
| Iran → UAE (Jebel Ali) | $445 | $25 | 5% | $503 | 3–5 days |
| UAE → Kenya (Mombasa) | $470 | $95 | 10% + VAT | $633 | 14–20 days |
| Singapore → Vietnam | $485 | $40 | 5% | $548 | 5–8 days |
| Korea → Australia | $510 | $70 | 0% FTA | $592 | 18–25 days |
| Bahrain → Bangladesh | $465 | $85 | 15% + AIT | $630 | 20–28 days |
Duty rates are indicative and change frequently; verify with a customs broker.
| Parameter | Bulk (vessel/flexitank) | Drums (20' container) | Jumbo Bags (20' container) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical load | 500–3,000 MT | 12–16 MT | 20–24 MT |
| Packaging cost/MT | $0 | $45–$65 | $30–$50 |
| Handling loss | 0.5% | 1.5–2% | 1–1.5% |
| Storage need | Heated tank | Open yard | Open yard |
| Best for | 500+ MT buyers | Small/remote sites | Small/remote sites |
| Cost per m³ (60/70) | $450–$490 | $490–$550 | $460–$520 |
Rule of thumb: packing adds 6–14% to the per-cubic-meter cost, but removes the need for heated storage, which can cost $15–$30/m³ per month in some ports.
How to Read a Bitumen Quote Correctly
Suppliers quote in different units, which causes 90% of pricing confusion. Check these five items before comparing numbers:
- Unit basis: per MT, per drum, or per container — convert everything to $/m³ for apples-to-apples.
- Incoterm: FOB, CFR, CIF, or DAP. A CIF quote can be $60–$130/MT above FOB.
- Density declared: if the supplier does not state density, assume 1.02 t/m³ and verify against the certificate of analysis.
- Penetration grade: 60/70 and VG-30 differ by $20–$40/MT.
- Payment terms: LC at sight vs. 30-day credit typically shifts pricing 1.5–3%.
For AI-assisted price checking, feed these five variables into a calculator rather than trusting a single per-m³ headline figure.
FAQ: Bitumen Price per Cubic Meter
Q1: How many tons are in 1 cubic meter of bitumen?
One cubic meter of standard penetration-grade bitumen (60/70) equals approximately 1.02 metric tons at 25°C. For VG-30 the figure is about 1.025 tonnes, and for oxidized grades up to 1.05 tonnes. Always confirm density from the supplier's certificate of analysis.
Q2: What is the price of 1 m³ of bitumen in USD in 2025?
At a mid-2025 FOB price of $430–$480 per ton for 60/70 penetration bitumen, one cubic meter costs about $439–$490. Packed in drums, the same cubic meter costs $475–$540. Polymer-modified grades push the per-m³ price above $550.
Q3: Why do suppliers quote bitumen per ton instead of per cubic meter?
Bitumen volume expands and contracts with temperature while mass stays constant, so tons are the only stable trade unit. Viscosity and pumping behavior are also measured against mass-based specifications in ASTM and IS standards. Converting to cubic meters is a buyer-side calculation for tank sizing and budgeting only.
Q4: How much does it cost to ship 1 cubic meter of bitumen?
Ocean freight for 1 m³ (about 1.02 MT) ranges from $25–$40 on short Gulf routes to $90–$120 on long-haul routes such as UAE to Kenya. Add $10–$25/m³ for port handling, demurrage risk, and documentation. Inland trucking adds another $15–$40/m³ depending on distance.
Q5: How do I calculate bitumen cost per cubic meter for my project?
Multiply the quoted price per ton by the density in t/m³. Example: $460/MT × 1.02 = $469.20/m³. Then add freight, duty, and packaging. For a 1,000 m³ project (1,020 MT), the bulk material cost would be about $469,200 before logistics.
Closing CTA: Get an Exact Figure with the 6Tar Cost Calculator
Tonnage, density, grade, packaging, freight, and duty — six variables decide your real bitumen cost per cubic meter. Instead of estimating, run your numbers through the 6Tar cost calculator and get a landed price per m³ in seconds. Enter your destination port, volume, and grade to see FOB, CFR, and DAP figures side by side.
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Last updated: 2025. Prices are indicative and subject to market movement; request a live quote before contracting.