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Top Asphalt Exports & Imports by Country Plus Average Prices

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Leaf on asphalt surface
Leaf on asphalt
In 2024, worldwide export sales of asphalt from all countries totaled US$1 billion.

Asphalt exports fell by an overall average -35.1% compared to 5 years earlier in 2020 when export sales for asphalt were $1.55 billion.

From 2023 to 2024, the dollar value of exported asphalt shrank by -32.9% from $1.5 billion.

Asphalt is principally used to make asphalt concrete for road surfacing. Asphalt concrete is typically composed from 5% asphalt cement plus 95% aggregates like stone, sand and gravel. Paving with asphalt concrete is also widely used for airport runways around the globe due to the materials’ sturdiness and repairability.

By value, the 5 biggest exporters of asphalt (Venezuela, Canada, Spain, United States of America and Germany) generated nearly half (49.7%) of all international asphalt exported during 2024.

From a continental perspective, countries in Europe sold the highest dollar worth of exported asphalt during 2024 with shipments valued at $479.6 million or 48.9% of the global total. In second place were exporters in North America (20.3%) trailed by those in Latin America (14.8%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean. Smaller percentages originated from sellers in Asia (13%), Africa (2.8%), and Oceania (0.1%) mostly Australia and New Zealand.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of asphalt in 2024 are mainland China, United States of America, Malaysia, Chile and the Dominican Republic. Combined, that quintet of top import countries bought 83.3% of globally imported asphalt as measured by dollar value.

Those percentages suggest the total 101 asphalt exporters (49.7% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is a less concentrated cohort compared to over 200 buying countries, islands and territories. The top 5 importers consumed a more intensive 83.3% propelled by a world-leading share of asphalt imports overweighted by those from mainland China.

As for the global imports total seen through a continental lens, 79.4% of asphalt was delivered to countries in Asia ahead of importers located in Europe (8.7%), Latin America (5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (4.4%), Africa (1.4%) and Oceania (1.1%) led by New Zealand and Australia.

Worldwide, the average unit price paid by asphalt importers was $486 per ton in 2024. That dollar amount results from 24.3% inflation from the average tonnage rate of $391 for 2023.

For research purposes, the 6-digit Harmonized Tariff System code prefix is 271500 bituminous mastics, cut-backs and other bituminous mixtures based on natural asphalt.

Top Asphalt Exports by Country

Below are the top 15 countries that exported the highest dollar value worth of asphalt during 2024.

  1. Venezuela: US$131.9 million (13.1% of total asphalt exports)
  2. Canada: $113.8 million (11.3%)
  3. Spain: $87.8 million (8.7%)
  4. United States: $85.2 million (8.5%)
  5. Germany: $80.6 million (8%)
  6. Belgium: $53.6 million (5.3%)
  7. Netherlands: $38.9 million (3.9%)
  8. Russia: $36 million (3.6%)
  9. Turkmenistan: $34.5 million (3.4%)
  10. Austria: $32.1 million (3.2%)
  11. Poland: $28.9 million (2.9%)
  12. United Kingdom: $24.5 million (2.4%)
  13. South Africa: $23 million (2.3%)
  14. Thailand: $20.4 million (2%)
  15. France: $19.6 million (1.9%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 80.7% of globally exported asphalt in 2024.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing asphalt exporters since 2023 were: Venezuela (up 2,340%), Turkmenistan (up 34.5%), Spain (up 23.4%) and the United Kingdom (up 14.5%).

Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported asphalt sales were: Russia (down -40.8% from 2023), Canada (down -13.2%), Austria (down -8.2%) and Germany (down -4.1%).

Top Asphalt Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported asphalt reduced by -3.3% over the 5-year period starting in 2020 and dropped by -27.5% year-over-year drop since 2023.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of asphalt imported during 2024.

  1. mainland China: US$3.6 billion (74% of total imported asphalt)
  2. United States: $178.1 million (3.7%)
  3. Malaysia: $123 million (2.5%)
  4. Chile: $83.4 million (1.7%)
  5. Dominican Republic: $63.1 million (1.3%)
  6. Finland: $56.1 million (1.2%)
  7. New Zealand: $45.9 million (0.9%)
  8. United Kingdom: $45.4 million (0.9%)
  9. Netherlands: $39 million (0.8%)
  10. Uzbekistan: $35.9 million (0.7%)
  11. Poland: $33.8 million (0.7%)
  12. Austria: $32.2 million (0.7%)
  13. Canada: $30 million (0.6%)
  14. Panama: $29.4 million (0.6%)
  15. France: $28.5 million (0.6%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 91% of globally imported asphalt in 2024.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing asphalt importers since 2023 were: Finland (up 171.1%), New Zealand (up 41.5%), Uzbekistan (up 37.1%) and Chile (up 30.8%).

Leading buyer countries that posted declines in their imported asphalt purchases were: mainland China (down -32.8% from 2023), Netherlands (down -31.3%), Canada (down -23.5%), Poland (down -17.2%) and Panama (down -14.2%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Asphalt

In 2024, the world’s average unit price for imported asphalt was US$486 per ton up from $391 in 2023 and $273 for 2020.

The average tonnage charge in 2024 for the number one asphalt importer, mainland China, was $472—lower than the global average price per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the cheapest average unit prices for imported asphalt in 2024.

  1. Austria: US$102 per ton (down -29.2% from 2023)
  2. Croatia: $143 per ton (down -4%)
  3. Eswatini: $182 per ton (down -57%)
  4. Slovenia: $183 per ton (up 22.8%)
  5. Gibraltar: $239 per ton (up 291.8%)
  6. France: $283 per ton (up 10.1%)
  7. Uzbekistan: $304 per ton (up 2%)
  8. South Sudan: $331 per ton (up 12.2%)
  9. Kenya: $386 per ton (down -21.4%)
  10. Tajikistan: $407 per ton (up 1.5%)
  11. Ireland: $416 per ton (down -2.1%)
  12. Northern Mariana Islands: $419 per ton (down -45.7%)
  13. Malaysia: $448 per ton (up 20.8%)
  14. Oman: $449 per ton (down -64.7%)
  15. Senegal: $458 per ton (up 25.8%)

Experiencing double-digit reductions in average unit price paid per ton for asphalt from 2023 to 2024 were low-cost importers in Oman (down -64.7%), Eswatini (down -57%), Northern Mariana Islands (down -45.7%), Austria (down -29.2%) and Kenya (down -21.4%).

The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported asphalt.

  1. Central African Republic: US$8,000 per ton (up 1,814% from 2023)
  2. Marshall Islands: $7,600 per ton (2023 data unavailable)
  3. Guinea-Bissau: $7,000 per ton (up 472.8%)
  4. British Virgin Islands: $5,000 per ton (up 25%)
  5. Nicaragua: $4,286 per ton (up 38.3%)
  6. Chad: $3,909 per ton (up 191.7%)
  7. Iceland: $3,590 per ton (down -2%)
  8. Cuba: $3,426 per ton (down -28.4%)
  9. Russia: $3,198 per ton (up 51.2%)
  10. Denmark: $3,065 per ton (up 39.4%)
  11. Belarus: $3,002 per ton (up 0.8%)
  12. Equatorial Guinea: $2,938 per ton (up 298.6%)
  13. Haiti: $2,929 per ton (up 9.8%)
  14. Bahrain: $2,707 per ton (up 18.5%)
  15. Sweden: $2,655 per ton (up 20.7%)

The greatest increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2024 compared to 2023 were experienced by importers in the Central African Republic (up 1,814%), Guinea-Bissau (up 472.8%), Equatorial Guinea (up 298.6%), Chad (up 191.7%) and Russia (up 51.2%).

See also Top Cement Exporting Countries, Top Gravel Exporters by Country, Top Sand Exporters by Country, Sawn Wood Exports by Country and Top Tin Exporters

Research Sources:
Alibaba, Asphalt Showroom. Accessed on October 13, 2025

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on October 13, 2025

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on October 13, 2025

Wikipedia, Asphalt. Accessed on October 13, 2025