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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 2022, worldwide export sales of asphalt from all countries totaled US$2.12 billion.

Asphalt exports grew by an overall average 37.1% since 2018 when export sales for asphalt were $1.55 billion.

From 2021 to 2022, the dollar value of exported asphalt shrank by -21.2%.

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 (Japan, Canada, United States of America, Russia and Germany) generated almost two-thirds (63.6%) of all international asphalt exported during 2022.

From a continental perspective, countries in Asia sold the highest dollar worth of exported asphalt during 2022 with shipments valued at $1.17 billion or 55.8% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Europe (27.9%) trailed by those in North America (13.2%). Tinier percentages originated from Latin America (1.8%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, Africa (1.2%) and Oceania’s New Zealand, Australia and Fiji only (0.1%).

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of asphalt in 2022 are mainland China, United States of America, Chile, Malaysia and the Dominican Republic. Combined, that quintet of top import countries bought 90% of globally imported asphalt as measured by dollar value.

Those percentages suggest the total 105 asphalt exporters (63.6% 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 90% propelled by a world-leading share of asphalt imports overweighted by mainland China.

As for the global imports total seen through a continental lens, 87.5% of asphalt was delivered to countries in Asia ahead of importers located in Europe (4.2%), Latin America (4.4%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (2.6%), Africa (1%), and Oceania (0.3%) led by New Zealand and Australia.

Worldwide, the average unit price paid by asphalt importers was $470 per ton in 2022. That dollar amount reflects a 17.8% increase from the average tonnage rate of $399 for 2021.

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 2022.

  1. Japan: US$851.5 million (40.1% of total asphalt exports)
  2. Canada: $152.6 million (7.2%)
  3. United States: $125.5 million (5.9%)
  4. Russia: $116.3 million (5.5%)
  5. Germany: $104.2 million (4.9%)
  6. Malaysia: $104.1 million (4.9%)
  7. Spain: $80.2 million (3.8%)
  8. China: $73.1 million (3.4%)
  9. Netherlands: $63.7 million (3.0%)
  10. Belgium: $59.5 million (2.8%)
  11. Poland: $29.4 million (1.4%)
  12. Singapore: $27.8 million (1.3%)
  13. Austria: $27.4 million (1.3%)
  14. Oman: $23.4 million (1.1%)
  15. Thailand: $23.3 million (1.1%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 87.7% of globally exported asphalt in 2022.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing asphalt exporters since 2021 were: Japan (up 1,151%), Oman (up 270.1%), mainland China (up 188.9%) and Malaysia (up 119.4%).

Five major suppliers posted declines in their exported asphalt sales, namely: Singapore (down -95.5% from 2021), Russia (down -89.2%), Spain (down -10.3%), Austria (down -4.6%) and Belgium (down -1.3%).

Top Asphalt Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported asphalt inflated by 469% over the 5-year period starting in 2018 but slowed to a 2.4% year-over-year advance since 2021.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of asphalt imported during 2022.

  1. China: US$7.7 billion (84.2% of total imported asphalt)
  2. United States: $197.3 million (2.2%)
  3. Chile: $146.8 million (1.6%)
  4. Malaysia: $92.3 million (1%)
  5. Dominican Republic: $86.9 million (1%)
  6. Paraguay: $55.5 million (0.6%)
  7. France: $41.2 million (0.5%)
  8. South Korea: $37.3 million (0.4%)
  9. Netherlands: $37.1 million (0.4%)
  10. United Kingdom: $37 million (0.4%)
  11. Canada: $36.4 million (0.4%)
  12. Poland: $35.8 million (0.4%)
  13. Bolivia: $34.4 million (0.4%)
  14. Panama: $32.9 million (0.4%)
  15. Qatar: $30.1 million (0.3%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 94.1% of globally imported asphalt in 2022.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing asphalt importers since 2021 were: Qatar (up 212%), Dominican Republic (up 131.7%), Bolivia (up 112.4%), Chile (up 75.7%), Poland (up 55.4%) and the United States of America (up 53.8%).

There were three countries that posted declines in their imported asphalt purchases, namely: South Korea (down -86.2% from 2021), Netherlands (down -40%) and Malaysia (down -37.6%).

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Asphalt

In 2022, the world’s average unit price for imported asphalt was US$470 per ton.

The average tonnage charge for the number one asphalt importer, mainland China, was modestly lower at $453.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the cheapest average unit prices for imported asphalt in 2022.

  1. Austria: US$135 per ton (down -17.2% from 2021)
  2. Slovenia: $139 per ton (down -30.2%)
  3. Croatia: $188 per ton (down -55.3%)
  4. Gibraltar: $216 per ton (up 28.6%)
  5. Uzbekistan: $250 per ton (up 10.1%)
  6. France: $283 per ton (up 48.9%)
  7. South Sudan: $291 per ton (down -5.2%)
  8. Belgium: $315 per ton (down -20.3%)
  9. Tajikistan: $332 per ton (up 0.6%)
  10. Portugal: $342 per ton (up 21.7%)
  11. Togo: $370 per ton (up 1.6%)
  12. Marshall Islands: $370 per ton (2021 data unavailable)
  13. Kenya: $395 per ton (down -2.2%)
  14. Guam: $413 per ton (up 22.2%)
  15. Slovakia: $415 per ton (up 20.3%)

Experiencing double-digit reductions in average unit price paid per ton for asphalt from 2021 to 2022 were low-cost importers Croatia (down -55.3%), Slovenia (down -30.2%), Belgium (down -20.3%) and Austria (down -17.2%).

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

  1. Sudan: US$4,333 per ton (up 601.1% from 2021)
  2. Argentina: $3,942 per ton (up 309.3%)
  3. Chad: $3,333 per ton (up 83.7%)
  4. Suriname: $3,333 per ton (up 191.6%)
  5. El Salvador: $3,222 per ton (up 9.3%)
  6. Cuba: $3,145 per ton (up 34.2%)
  7. Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba: $3,048 per ton (down -29.7%)
  8. Sierra Leone: $2,974 per ton (up 1089.6%)
  9. Tunisia: $2,593 per ton (up 94.5%)
  10. Bahrain: $2,461 per ton (up 93.9%)
  11. Taiwan: $2,410 per ton (up 44.2%)
  12. Algeria: $2,296 per ton (up 12%)
  13. Iceland: $2,286 per ton (down -0.7%)
  14. Cameroon: $2,273 per ton (up 138.3%)
  15. Greece: $2,210 per ton (down -18.4%)

The 6 strongest increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2022 compared to 2021 were experienced by importers in Sierra Leone (up 1,090%), Sudan (up 601.1%), Argentina (up 309.3%), Suriname (up 191.6%), Cameroon (up 138.3%) and Tunisia (up 94.5%).

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 September 22, 2023

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on September 22, 2023

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 22, 2023

Wikipedia, Asphalt. Accessed on September 22, 2023