Between 29 September and 5 October 2025, Brent crude oil prices ranged from $64.45/bl to $ 67.81/bl, a decrease of $2.70/bl from the prior week.
Lower crude and high-sulphur fuel oil (HSFO) values, in combination with weak demand and oversupply, pushed the bitumen prices down in major export points.
In Asia, demand stayed weak due to seasonal rains, typhoon disruptions, and holidays. While Singapore bitumen export prices dropped by $4/t to $398–408/t, South Korean prices increased by $2/t to $390–401/t. However, by the end of the week, prices softened due to a lack of demand from China during the holiday.
In China, the bitumen market was muted due to China’s National Day public holiday. Domestic prices were steady at Yn3,450–3,720/t in Shandong, Yn3,300–3,470/t in East China, and Yn3,230–3,300/t in South China. Also, import and export activity remained limited.
In India, the monsoon continued to weaken demand. Domestic refiners offered deep discounts, which made imports unattractive compared to the cheaper domestic supply.
In the Middle East, bitumen prices dropped under pressure from weak demand in South Asia and a weaker rial. However, higher vacuum bottom (VB) feedstock prices and tighter supply supported prices. Bulk cargoes fell by $2.10/t to $264–275/t, while drummed cargoes dropped by $6/t to $370–388/t.
Bahrain kept seaborne offers unchanged at $400/t, while Iraqi suppliers raised bitumen prices due to reduced feedstock availability.
In Africa, West African bitumen import prices declined by $12-13/t due to lower Mediterranean HSFO and crude prices during the rainy season. In East Africa, import prices declined $6/t to $469–479/t in Kenya and $484–494/t in Tanzania. South Africa’s domestic truck prices dropped R200/t. Also, the Natref refinery reduced its production ahead of a permanent shutdown by mid-October.
