Roofing Bitumen In Syria
Last updated: 2026-10-15
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Roofing Bitumen In Syria
Roofing bitumen in Syria is supplied primarily as 60/70 and 40/50 penetration-grade oxidized asphalt, with bulk drummed imports landing at $430–$520 per metric ton CFR Lattakia and Tartous as of 2025, depending on grade, packaging, and volume. Standard container orders move 20–24 tons per 20ft FCL, and customs clearance at Syrian ports typically takes 7–14 working days with complete documentation. Domestic demand for roofing-grade bitumen runs an estimated 180,000–250,000 tons annually, concentrated in Damascus, Aleppo, Homs, and the coastal governorates.
Why Syrian Roofs Depend on Oxidized Bitumen
Syria's climate is unforgiving on flat roofing systems. Summer surface temperatures on concrete rooftops in Damascus and Deir ez-Zor routinely reach 70–80°C, while winter lows in the interior drop toward 0°C with occasional frost. This thermal swing destroys soft, low-softening-point binders — which is why the Syrian market standardized on oxidized (blown) bitumen rather than straight-run penetration grades for waterproofing.
Oxidized bitumen is produced by blowing air through vacuum residue at 240–280°C, which raises the softening point and reduces temperature susceptibility. The result is a binder that stays rigid in July and does not crack in January.
Key properties that matter for Syrian roofing applications:
- Softening point (ring & ball): 85–105°C for roofing membranes; 95–110°C for hot-applied waterproofing
- Penetration @ 25°C: 20–40 dmm (1/10 mm) for oxidized roofing grades
- Flash point: minimum 230°C (critical for on-site propane torch application)
- Solubility in trichloroethylene: minimum 99%
- Loss on heating: maximum 1.0% by mass
| Grade | Softening Point (°C) | Penetration @25°C (dmm) | Typical Use in Syria | Price Band (USD/MT CFR) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60/70 Pen | 45–55 | 60–70 | Roads, base layers, some roofing | $430–$470 |
| 40/50 Pen | 50–60 | 40–50 | Heavy-duty roofing, industrial | $445–$490 |
| R85/25 Oxidized | 85–95 | 20–30 | Roofing felt, torch membranes | $470–$510 |
| R95/25 Oxidized | 95–105 | 20–30 | Hot-applied waterproofing | $490–$525 |
| R115/15 Oxidized | 110–120 | 10–20 | Pipe coating, special membranes | $520–$560 |
Prices indicative, 2025 levels, subject to freight and sanction-related banking friction.
Supply Routes and Logistics Into Syria
Syria's bitumen supply does not follow simple trade lanes. Banking restrictions, insurance exclusions, and port handling constraints mean most cargo reaches Syria through indirect routing and third-country documentation. Understanding these routes is essential for any buyer comparing offers.
Primary import corridors:
- Tartous and Lattakia ports: Main receiving points for drummed and bulk cargo. Discharge rates average 1,000–1,500 MT/day for bulk, slower for drums (150–250 MT/day).
- Beirut (Lebanon) → overland: Trucked via the Masnaa border crossing. Adds $60–$90/MT in trucking and border costs but shortens lead time to 3–5 days after vessel discharge.
- Mersin (Turkey) → Bab al-Hawa / Bab al-Salama: Northern corridor serving Aleppo and Idlib. Common for drummed cargo in 20–25 MT truckloads.
- Aqaba (Jordan) → Nassib border: Southern route into Damascus and Daraa. Longer inland haul, roughly $75–$110/MT in trucking.
| Route | Transit Time | Added Cost (USD/MT) | Best For | Volume Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Direct to Tartous | 12–20 days (from Black Sea) | Baseline | Bulk + drums | High |
| Direct to Lattakia | 14–22 days | Baseline +5% | Drums, containers | Medium |
| Beirut → Masnaa | 3–5 days post-discharge | +$60–$90 | Urgent, small lots | Low–Medium |
| Mersin → Bab al-Hawa | 2–5 days post-loading | +$50–$80 | Northern Syria | Medium |
| Aqaba → Nassib | 5–8 days post-discharge | +$75–$110 | Southern Syria | Medium |
Packaging matters more than most buyers expect. New steel drums (150 kg or 180 kg) are the market standard because they survive rough port handling and can be resold. Bulk bitumen in flexitanks or bitutankers is cheaper per ton but requires heated storage at destination — a scarce asset in Syria. For most Syrian roofing contractors, drummed 150 kg oxidized bitumen at $70–$80 per drum landed is the working unit of trade.
Cost Breakdown: What a Syrian Buyer Actually Pays
List price is only part of the landed cost. Sanction-related banking friction, insurance surcharges, and inland transport add significant percentages that buyers must model before committing.
| Cost Component | USD/MT | % of Total | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| FOB base price | $395 | 76.0% | Origin refinery |
| Ocean freight | $45 | 8.7% | Black Sea → Tartous |
| Marine insurance | $12 | 2.3% | War-risk included |
| Port & handling (Tartous) | $18 | 3.5% | Discharge, storage |
| Customs & clearance | $22 | 4.2% | Duties, agent fees |
| Inland transport | $28 | 5.4% | To Damascus |
| Total landed | $520 | 100% | Per metric ton |
At this landed cost, a 20 MT container delivers roofing bitumen to a Damascus yard at approximately $10,400 total, or $65 per 150 kg drum before local mark-up.
Payment realities on the ground:
- Cash against documents (CAD) is the dominant mechanism — letters of credit are largely unavailable through Syrian banks.
- Third-country intermediaries (UAE, Turkey, Lebanon) handle roughly 60–70% of transactions.
- Hawala and commodity swaps still move a meaningful share of volume, particularly for smaller orders under 100 MT.
Demand Drivers and Seasonality
Roofing bitumen demand in Syria is not uniform across the year. It follows a construction calendar tied to weather and cash flow.
Peak months: May through September. Contractors buy heavily in late spring to complete waterproofing before summer heat and ahead of autumn rains. Prices in this window typically run 3–7% above the annual average.
Low months: December through February. Cold, rain, and reduced construction activity suppress orders. Buyers who can store inventory often secure 4–8% discounts on off-season cargoes.
| Region | Annual Tonnage | Share | Primary Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damascus & Rural Damascus | 65,000–80,000 | 32% | Residential flat roofs |
| Aleppo | 45,000–60,000 | 24% | Rebuild, industrial |
| Homs & Hama | 25,000–35,000 | 14% | Mixed construction |
| Coastal (Lattakia, Tartous) | 20,000–30,000 | 12% | Residential, humidity barriers |
| Deir ez-Zor & East | 15,000–25,000 | 9% | Arid-climate roofing |
| Daraa, Suweida, South | 10,000–18,000 | 7% | Residential |
| Total | 180,000–250,000 | 100% | — |
The reconstruction pipeline is the single largest variable. Each 1 million m² of flat roofing requires roughly 3,000–4,000 MT of oxidized bitumen at standard membrane thickness — a useful rule of thumb when estimating regional demand from announced housing programs.
Quality Checks Before You Buy
Counterfeit and off-spec bitumen is a genuine problem in the Syrian market, particularly for drummed cargo where drums are re-marked and re-sold. Buyers should insist on certificate of analysis (COA) matching drum stencils and verify the following before unloading.
- Test softening point on a random sample of 3 drums per container — variation above 5°C between drums signals blending.
- Check drum stencils for heat number, production date, and refinery code. Repainted drums are a red flag.
- Verify net weight on a calibrated scale. Underfilled 150 kg drums are common in lower-priced offers.
- Inspect for contamination — water, sand, or used oil blending shows up as dark streaks or foaming during heating.
- Request a retained sample sealed and signed by both parties for dispute resolution.
A $25–$40 per shipment third-party inspection at load port is cheap insurance against a $500/MT loss on rejected cargo.
FAQ: Roofing Bitumen In Syria
What is the current price of roofing bitumen in Syria?
As of 2025, landed oxidized roofing bitumen (R85/25) runs $470–$520 per metric ton CFR Tartous or Lattakia, or roughly $70–$80 per 150 kg drum. Prices vary with freight, payment route, and order volume.
Which bitumen grade is best for Syrian flat roofs?
Oxidized R85/25 or R95/25 is standard for Syrian flat roofs because it withstands surface temperatures above 70°C without flowing. Straight-run 60/70 penetration grade is only suitable for base layers or shaded applications.
How many tons of bitumen fit in a 20ft container?
A standard 20ft FCL holds 20–24 metric tons of drummed bitumen — typically 133–160 drums at 150 kg each. Bulk flexitank shipments can reach 24 MT but require heated discharge equipment.
How long does it take to import bitumen into Syria?
From order to delivery at a Damascus yard, expect 30–45 days: 5–10 days for documentation and loading, 12–22 days ocean transit to Tartous or Lattakia, 7–14 days customs clearance, and 1–3 days inland transport.
Can I pay for bitumen imports into Syria through normal banking?
Direct SWIFT transfers to Syrian banks are heavily restricted, so most transactions clear through third-country intermediaries in the UAE, Turkey, or Lebanon, or via cash against documents. Budget 1–3% extra in transaction costs for compliance and intermediary fees.
Plan Your Bitumen Budget With the 6Tar Cost Calculator
Landing roofing bitumen in Syria is a math problem before it is a logistics problem — freight, war-risk insurance, port handling, customs, and inland transport all stack on top of the FOB price. Small errors in any line swing your per-drum cost by $5–$12.
Use the 6Tar cost calculator to model your exact landed cost: enter your origin, grade, volume, destination port, and payment route, and get a per-ton and per-drum figure in seconds. Build your quote on real numbers instead of supplier guesswork — and negotiate from a position of arithmetic, not optimism.