Kenya Bitumen Import Demand
Last updated: 2026-10-05
Kenya's bitumen import demand reached approximately 485,000 metric tonnes in 2024, up roughly 9% year-on-year, driven by road rehabilitation under the Kenya Roads Board programme and last-mile connectivity projects. The country imports 100% of its bitumen — there is no domestic refinery production since the Kenpipe depot conversion — with the Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain) supplying around 72% of volume and India and South Korea covering most of the remainder. Delivered cost per tonne into Mombasa currently ranges between USD 480 and USD 560, depending on grade (60/70 penetration vs. PG 64-22) and freight timing.
Kenya Bitumen Import Demand: Key Numbers at a Glance
| Indicator | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 (est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Import volume (MT) | 398,000 | 445,000 | 485,000 | 520,000–540,000 |
| YoY growth | +6.2% | +11.8% | +9.0% | +8.0% |
| Value (USD m) | 205 | 238 | 258 | 275–295 |
| Avg. landed price (USD/MT) | 515 | 535 | 532 | 510–545 |
| Share via Mombasa | 94% | 95% | 96% | 96% |
| Share via Lamu (LAPSSET) | 0% | 1% | 2% | 3% |
Why demand keeps rising:
- Road network deficit: Kenya maintains ~161,000 km of classified roads, but only ~21,000 km are paved. The Kenya Roads Board targets 10,000 km of new tarmac by 2027.
- Budget allocation: KeNHA, KURA, and KeRRA combined received KES 189 billion in FY 2024/25 for road development — a 14% increase over FY 2023/24.
- Regional transit demand: Landlocked neighbours (Uganda, Rwanda, DRC, South Sudan) pull an additional 60,000–80,000 MT/year through Kenyan ports and depots.
- Bitumen is fully imported: No local refining capacity for penetration-grade bitumen means every tonne is sourced offshore.
Who Supplies Kenya's Bitumen? Country-by-Country Breakdown
Middle East refiners dominate because of proximity, tanker economics, and established drum/bulk handling at Mombasa.
| Source country | 2024 volume (MT) | Share | Typical grade | Transit time to Mombasa |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UAE | 172,000 | 35.5% | 60/70, 80/100 | 7–10 days |
| Saudi Arabia | 108,000 | 22.3% | 60/70, PG 64-22 | 9–12 days |
| Bahrain | 69,000 | 14.2% | 60/70 | 8–11 days |
| India | 58,000 | 12.0% | 60/70, VG-30 | 14–18 days |
| South Korea | 41,000 | 8.5% | PG 64-22, polymer mod. | 20–24 days |
| Others (Oman, Iran, Singapore) | 37,000 | 7.5% | Mixed | 10–25 days |
| Total | 485,000 | 100% | — | — |
Packaging and handling notes:
- New steel drums (150–180 kg): Still dominant for inland distribution to Uganda and Rwanda; ~55% of import volume.
- Bulk (bitutankers / ISO tanks): Growing share (~40%) as KeNHA contractors add heated storage at depots in Nairobi, Nakuru, and Eldoret.
- Polymer-modified bitumen (PMB): Imports up 22% in 2024, used on expressway overlays (e.g., Nairobi Expressway maintenance contracts).
Price Dynamics: What Drives Kenya's Bitumen Landed Cost
Landed cost = FOB + freight + insurance + port charges + clearing + inland transport. Each component moves demand.
| Cost component | Typical range (USD/MT) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| FOB (Jebel Ali benchmark) | 380–430 | Tracks Brent + refinery spread |
| Ocean freight | 35–60 | Higher in Q4 monsoon window |
| Insurance | 3–6 | ~0.8–1.2% of CIF |
| Mombasa port charges | 12–18 | KPA handling, storage after 7 free days |
| Clearing & forwarding | 18–25 | Includes KEBS PVoC certification |
| Inland transport (to Nairobi) | 35–50 | ~485 km by truck |
| Total landed (Nairobi) | 480–560 | Drummed adds USD 25–35/MT |
Seasonal and structural factors:
- Monsoon freight premium: June–September Indian Ocean swells add USD 8–15/MT to freight.
- FX exposure: KES depreciation against USD raises effective local cost even when FOB is flat; 2024 saw ~4% average depreciation.
- KEBS pre-export verification (PVoC): Non-compliant consignments face 14–21 day delays at Mombasa, effectively adding storage cost.
- Global supply tightness: Refinery upgrades in the Gulf toward lighter products have reduced bitumen yield, tightening 60/70 availability by an estimated 3–5% annually.
Demand Drivers: Projects and Policy Fueling 2025–2027 Growth
| Project / programme | Bitumen requirement (MT) | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| Dualling of Nairobi–Mombasa (remaining sections) | 45,000 | 2025–2027 |
| Lamu–Ishiolo–Mokowe road | 18,000 | 2025–2026 |
| Mau Summit dualling | 32,000 | 2025–2027 |
| County roads (KeRRA low-volume tarmac) | 60,000/yr | Ongoing |
| Last-mile connectivity (10,000 km target) | 85,000/yr | 2025–2028 |
| Regional transit (Uganda/Rwanda/DRC) | 60,000–80,000/yr | Ongoing |
Policy tailwinds:
- Public-Private Partnerships (PPP): The Roads Annuity Programme shifts maintenance risk to contractors, increasing steady bitumen offtake.
- Road Maintenance Levy Fund: KES 0.18 per litre of fuel funds routine resurfacing — a direct demand floor.
- LAPSSET corridor: Lamu port bitumen handling capacity planned at 50,000 MT/year by 2027, reducing Mombasa congestion.
Headwinds:
- Payment cycles: Average contractor payment delay of 90–120 days from government agencies slows restocking.
- Currency volatility: Importers hedge only ~30% of exposure, leaving margins exposed.
- Alternative binders: Emulsion and foamed bitumen for low-volume roads could displace 5–8% of penetration-grade demand by 2027.
How to Forecast Kenya's Bitumen Import Demand (Practical Guide)
Importers, traders, and logistics providers can model demand in four steps:
1. Track the budget cycle. Over 70% of bitumen procurement in Kenya is government-linked. Watch the June budget statement and KeNHA/KURA tender releases.
2. Monitor road tender awards. Each 1,000 km of new tarmac translates to roughly 8,500–10,000 MT of bitumen.
3. Model FX and freight together. A 5% KES depreciation historically cuts import volume growth by 1.5–2 percentage points in the following quarter.
4. Watch regional transit volumes. Uganda's road budget alone drives 35,000–45,000 MT/year through Mombasa.
Quick reference — conversion factors:
- 1 km of 7m-wide single coat = 3.5–4.5 MT bitumen
- 1 km of full reconstruction (two coats + base) = 18–25 MT
- 1 standard 150 kg drum = 0.15 MT; 40 drums ≈ 6 MT per pallet load
FAQ: Kenya Bitumen Import Demand
Q1: How much bitumen does Kenya import annually?
Kenya imported approximately 485,000 MT in 2024, valued at around USD 258 million. Volume is projected to reach 520,000–540,000 MT in 2025 on the back of dualling projects and last-mile road programmes. Growth has averaged 9% per year since 2022.
Q2: Which countries supply most of Kenya's bitumen?
The UAE (35.5%), Saudi Arabia (22.3%), and Bahrain (14.2%) supplied roughly 72% of Kenya's bitumen in 2024. India (12%) and South Korea (8.5%) are the next largest sources, mainly for polymer-modified and PG-grade products. Transit times from Gulf ports to Mombasa run 7–12 days.
Q3: What is the landed price of bitumen in Kenya?
Delivered cost into Nairobi currently ranges from USD 480 to USD 560 per MT, with drummed cargo at the higher end. Mombasa CIF prices are typically USD 420–470/MT, and inland transport to Nairobi adds USD 35–50/MT. Monsoon-season freight can add another USD 8–15/MT.
Q4: Does Kenya produce any bitumen domestically?
No. Kenya imports 100% of its bitumen — there is no domestic refinery producing penetration-grade bitumen at commercial scale. All volume enters through Mombasa (96%) and increasingly Lamu (2–3%). This makes import logistics, FX, and KEBS compliance critical cost variables.
Q5: What is driving Kenya's bitumen demand growth through 2027?
Three forces: the government's 10,000 km tarmac target, PPP road annuity programmes, and regional transit demand from Uganda, Rwanda, and DRC. Combined, these should push imports to 560,000–600,000 MT by 2027. Counterweights include payment delays and possible substitution by emulsion binders on low-volume roads.
Plan Your Bitumen Cargo Cost with 6Tar
Before you commit to a Gulf or Indian supplier, model your full landed cost — FOB, freight, insurance, port charges, clearing, and inland haulage — in one place. Use the 6Tar cost calculator to compare 60/70 penetration, PG 64-22, and PMB grades against real Mombasa and Nairobi delivery scenarios. Enter your volume, origin port, and packaging type to get a per-tonne landed price in seconds — then benchmark it against the USD 480–560/MT market range. Start your calculation now and quote your next Kenya-bound cargo with confidence.