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World's Top Exports

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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 2020, worldwide export sales of asphalt from all countries totaled US$1.58 billion.

Asphalt exports flatlined by an overall average 1.2% gain since 2016 when export sales for asphalt were $1.57 billion.

From 2019 to 2020, the dollar value of exported Asphalt increased by 3.8%.

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 (Singapore, Malaysia, Russia, Canada and Germany) generated two-thirds (66.7%) of all international asphalt exported during 2020.

From a continental perspective, countries in Asia sold the highest dollar worth of exported asphalt during 2020 with shipments valued at $835.3 million or 52.8% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe (35.2%) trailed by North America (9.8%). Tinier percentages originated from Latin America (1%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (0.5%), and Oceania (0.04%) New Zealand and Australia only.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of asphalt in 2020 are China, United States of America, Netherlands, Finland and Paraguay. Combined, that quintet of top import countries bought 86.1% of globally imported asphalt as measured by dollar value.

Those percentages suggest the total 99 asphalt exporters (66.7% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 205 buying countries, islands and territories. However, the top 5 importers consumed a more intensive 86.1% propelled by a world-leading share of asphalt imports spearheaded by mainland China.

As for the global imports total, 85% of asphalt was delivered to countries in Asia ahead of importers in Europe (7.2%), Latin America (3%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (2.6%), Africa (1.8%), and Oceania (0.5%) led by New Zealand and Australia.

Worldwide, the average unit price paid by asphalt importers was $254 per ton in 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -46.4% drop from the average tonnage rate of $474 for 2019.

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 2020.

  1. Singapore: US$446.4 million (28.2% of total exported asphalt)
  2. Malaysia: $236.5 million (14.9%)
  3. Russia: $214.5 million (13.5%)
  4. Canada: $87.2 million (5.5%)
  5. Germany: $71.2 million (4.5%)
  6. United States: $68.3 million (4.3%)
  7. Spain: $49.4 million (3.1%)
  8. Japan: $46.6 million (2.9%)
  9. Belgium: $46.6 million (2.9%)
  10. Oman: $44.6 million (2.8%)
  11. Netherlands: $41.7 million (2.6%)
  12. Austria: $22.2 million (1.4%)
  13. United Kingdom: $16.6 million (1%)
  14. France: $15.7 million (1%)
  15. Thailand: $15.6 million (1%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 89.9% of globally exported asphalt in 2020.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing asphalt exporters since 2019 were: Oman (up 13,092%), Singapore (up 218.1%), Russia (up 210.6%) and Netherlands (up 11.3%).

Those countries that posted declines in their exported asphalt sales were led by: Japan (down -69.8%), Malaysia (down -42.6%), Austria (down -21.5%), United States of America (down -18.6%) and United Kingdom (down -17.2%).

Top Asphalt Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported asphalt rose by 13.6% over the 5-year period starting in 2016 but fell by -4.2% year over year since 2019.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of asphalt imported during 2020.

  1. China: US$3.8 billion (81.7% of total imported asphalt)
  2. United States: $88.4 million (1.9%)
  3. Netherlands: $42.8 million (0.9%)
  4. Finland: $38 million (0.8%)
  5. Paraguay: $34.4 million (0.7%)
  6. Kenya: $34.2 million (0.7%)
  7. Dominican Republic: $31.6 million (0.7%)
  8. Kazakhstan: $29.3 million (0.6%)
  9. Canada: $26.4 million (0.6%)
  10. United Kingdom: $23.5 million (0.5%)
  11. Malaysia: $22.3 million (0.5%)
  12. South Korea: $21.3 million (0.5%)
  13. France: $20.2 million (0.4%)
  14. Panama: $19.4 million (0.4%)
  15. Chile: $19 million (0.4%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 91.4% of globally imported asphalt in 2020.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing asphalt importers since 2019 were: mainland China (up 486.3%), Finland (up 344.3%), South Korea (up 325.1%) and Kazakhstan (up 66.7%).

Those countries that posted declines in their imported asphalt purchases were led by: Dominican Republic (down -70.8%), Chile (down -64.3%), Panama (down -47.8%), United Kingdom (down -38.5%) and Canada (down -28.5%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Asphalt

In 2020, the world’s average unit price for imported asphalt was US$254 per ton.

The average tonnage charge for the number one asphalt importer, mainland China, was lower at $231.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the cheapest average unit prices for imported asphalt in 2020.

  1. Equatorial Guinea: US$144 per ton (down -69.3% from 2019)
  2. Austria: $159 per ton (up 10.4%)
  3. Mauritania: $161 per ton (down -88.2%)
  4. Gibraltar: $175 per ton (up 94.4%)
  5. France: $177 per ton (up 18%)
  6. Slovenia: $196 per ton (down -13.3%)
  7. Botswana: $207 per ton (down -59.6%)
  8. Ireland: $213 per ton (down -1.4%)
  9. Guam: $220 per ton (down -0.5%)
  10. Portugal: $228 per ton (down -36.1%)
  11. China: $231 per ton (down -42.5%)
  12. Burundi: $250 per ton (down -50%)
  13. Kazakhstan: $254 per ton (down -6.3%)
  14. Uzbekistan: $293 per ton (up 12.3%)
  15. Lebanon: $298 per ton (down -31%)

Experiencing the greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for asphalt from 2019 to 2020 were low-cost importers Mauritania (down -88.2%), Equatorial Guinea (down -69.3%), Botswana (down -59.6%), Burundi (down -50%), mainland China (down -42.5%), Portugal (down -36.1%) and Lebanon (down -31%).

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

  1. Barbados: US$5,143 per ton (down -14.3% from 2019)
  2. Belize: $5,000 per ton (up 900%)
  3. Antigua/Barbuda: $4,000 per ton (down -15.8%)
  4. St Vincent/Grenadines: $4,000 per ton (up 100%)
  5. Iceland: $3,698 per ton (up 71.7%)
  6. Mozambique: $3,419 per ton (up 387.7%)
  7. Marshall Islands: $3,000 per ton (up 233.3%)
  8. Myanmar: $3,000 per ton (up 637.1%)
  9. El Salvador: $2,846 per ton (down -17.4%)
  10. Andorra: $2,467 per ton (up 111.4%)
  11. Nicaragua: $2,235 per ton (down -14.9%)
  12. Saudi Arabia: $2,198 per ton (up 21.7%)
  13. Sweden: $2,168 per ton (up 144.7%)
  14. Cuba: $2,067 per ton (up 60%)
  15. Ivory Coast: $1,943 per ton (up 72.3%)

The 6 strongest increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2020 compared to 2019 were experienced by importers in Belize (up 900%), Myanmar also called Burma (up 637.1%), Mozambique (up 387.7%), Marshall Islands (up 233.3%), Sweden (up 144.7%) and Andorra (up 111.4%).

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 February 5, 2022

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on February 5, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on February 5, 2022

Wikipedia, Asphalt. Accessed on February 5, 2022