East Asia’s bitumen market faces limited September cargo availability, while demand remains uneven across key markets. Singapore and Thailand stay constrained, China gains a larger supply role, and buyers increasingly weigh origin, grade, freight, and execution alongside price.
East Asia’s bitumen market is seeing tighter supply, but demand remains selective. Singapore and Thailand face limited availability, while South Korea and China are gaining attention as alternative origins. Indonesia shows early restocking, but buyers remain focused on price, availability and delivery timing.
Crude above $85 and tighter regional supply continue to support East Asian bitumen prices, but demand remains cautious due to rainfall and budget constraints. China is strengthening as a regional supplier, while buyers increasingly prioritize cargo availability, freight, loading schedules, and execution reliability over price alone.
Renewed tensions between the United States and Iran around the Strait of Hormuz have increased geopolitical risk across global energy markets, supporting crude and freight costs while East Asian bitumen buyers remain cautious.
This report reflects market conditions updated as of 15 June 2026, including the latest developments in the Middle East. The announcement of a 60-day ceasefire framework between Iran and the United States has improved market sentiment and raised expectations for better shipping conditions through the Hormuz Strait. Brent crude opened the week near $83/bbl, indicating...
The East Asian bitumen market remained relatively stable at the end of May, although supply conditions and cargo availability continue to play a more important role than price alone. Current market indications show FOB Singapore at $566–575/MT and FOB South Korea at $540–550/MT, while CFR East China prices moved higher and Indonesia Ex-Works prices saw...
The East Asian bitumen market remains firm, but buyers are becoming more selective. In today’s market, low prices alone are no longer enough. Buyers are paying closer attention to supply reliability, cargo availability, and delivery timing before making purchasing decisions. According to the latest market assessments, Singapore FOB was reported at $556–$568/mt, while South Korea...
Market Overview & Crude Context Despite the recent tweet from President Trump, which triggered a transient intraday dip of nearly 3%, the oil market staged a swift reversal; notably, Brent crude surged past the $114 level during the final trading hours of Monday, May 4th. This price rally underscores that the sell-off fueled by political...
The East Asian bitumen market has moved away from its wartime peak but remains significantly higher than pre-crisis levels. Today’s market is no longer defined solely by price; it is driven by project budgets, contractor price acceptance, and strategic timing. Professional buyers have become more selective, shifting the focus from raw numbers to market feasibility....
