Asphalt exports fell by an overall average -65.1% compared to 5 years earlier in 2021 when export sales for asphalt were $2.6 billion.
From 2024 to 2025, the dollar value of exported asphalt shrank by -9.2% from $1 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 (Ghana, United States of America, Canada, Germany and Belgium) generated approaching half (47.7%) of all international asphalt exported during 2025.
From a continental perspective, countries in Europe sold the highest dollar worth of exported asphalt during 2025 with shipments valued at $414.7 million or 46.3% of the global total. In second place were exporters in North America (21.7%) trailed by those in Africa (14.7%). Smaller percentages originated from sellers in Asia (11.7%), Latin America (5.5%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania (0.4%) mostly Australia and New Zealand.
Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of asphalt in 2025 are mainland China, United States of America, Malaysia, Netherlands and the Dominican Republic. Combined, that quintet of top import countries bought 77.8% of globally imported asphalt as measured by dollar value.
Those percentages suggest the total 109 asphalt exporters (47.7% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is a less concentrated cohort compared to about 215 buying countries, islands and territories. The top 5 importers consumed a more intensive 77.8% 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, 73.4% of asphalt was delivered to countries in Asia ahead of importers located in Europe (12.6%), Latin America (6.2%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (4.7%), Africa (1.9%) and Oceania (1.2%) led by New Zealand and Australia.
Worldwide, the average unit price paid by asphalt importers was $510 per ton in 2025. That dollar amount results from 4.5% inflation from the average tonnage rate of $488 for 2024.
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 2025.
- Ghana: US$104.2 million (11.3% of total asphalt exports)
- United States: $97.5 million (10.6%)
- Canada: $96.5 million (10.5%)
- Germany: $92.4 million (10%)
- Belgium: $48.5 million (5.3%)
- Netherlands: $46.8 million (5.1%)
- Venezuela: $30.5 million (3.3%)
- Poland: $30.5 million (3.3%)
- Austria: $29.7 million (3.2%)
- Spain: $27.8 million (3%)
- Russia: $25.4 million (2.8%)
- United Kingdom: $23.6 million (2.6%)
- United Arab Emirates: $18.8 million (2%)
- South Africa: $18.7 million (2%)
- France: $17.8 million (1.9%)
By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 77.1% of globally exported asphalt in 2025.
Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing asphalt exporter since 2024 was Ghana which spiked from zero in 2024.
Other leading asphalt growth exporters were the Netherlands (up 20.8% from 2024), United States of America (up 14.4%) then Germany (up 9.9%).
Major suppliers that posted declines in their exported asphalt sales were: Venezuela (down -76.9% from 2024), Spain (down -68.4%), United Arab Emirates (down -36.5%) and Russia (down -28.7%).
Top Asphalt Imports by Country
The overall cost for imported asphalt shrank by -60.1% over the 5-year period starting in 2021 to $3.55 billion for 2025. The most recent total also represents a -27% year-over-year drop since 2024.
Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of asphalt imported during 2025.
- mainland China: US$2.4 billion (68.5% of total imported asphalt)
- United States: $126 million (3.5%)
- Malaysia: $74.9 million (2.1%)
- Netherlands: $67.1 million (1.9%)
- Dominican Republic: $63.7 million (1.8%)
- Finland: $45.5 million (1.3%)
- United Kingdom: $45.3 million (1.3%)
- Chile: $43.3 million (1.2%)
- Germany: $36.3 million (1%)
- Canada: $35.3 million (1%)
- Brazil: $35 million (1%)
- New Zealand: $33.1 million (0.9%)
- Panama: $29.3 million (0.8%)
- Austria: $29 million (0.8%)
- Poland: $28.1 million (0.8%)
By value, the listed 15 countries bought 88% of globally imported asphalt in 2025.
Among the top importers, growth asphalt importers since 2024 were: the Netherlands (up 125.4%), Brazil (up 101.2%), Canada (up 17.7%), Germany (up 16.6%) and the Dominican Republic (up 1%).
Leading buyer countries that posted declines in their imported asphalt purchases were: Chile (down -48.1% from 2024), Malaysia (down -39.1%), mainland China (down -32%) and the United States of America (down -29.2%).
Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Asphalt
In 2025, the world’s average unit price for imported asphalt was US$510 per ton up from $488 in 2024 and $399 for 2021.
The average tonnage charge in 2025 for the number one asphalt importer, mainland China, was $487—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 2025.
- Marshall Islands: US$115 per ton (down -98.5% from 2024)
- Austria: $116 per ton (up 13.7%)
- Croatia: $162 per ton (up 13.3%)
- Slovenia: $205 per ton (up 12%)
- Kyrgyzstan: $222 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Kiribati: $227 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Laos: $279 per ton (down -43.8%)
- Bahamas: $312 per ton (down -69%)
- American Samoa: $333 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- France: $340 per ton (up 20.1%)
- South Sudan: $343 per ton (up 3.6%)
- Vanuatu: $348 per ton (down -26.6%)
- Guam: $392 per ton (2024 data unavailable)
- Gibraltar: $393 per ton (up 64.4%)
- Yemen: $405 per ton (down -44.3%)
Experiencing reductions in average unit price paid per ton for asphalt from 2024 to 2025 were low-cost importers in Marshall Islands (down -98.5%), Bahamas (down -69%), Yemen (down -44.3%), Laos (down -43.8%) and Vanuatu (down -26.6%).
The following countries paid the highest average unit prices for imported asphalt.
- Guinea-Bissau: US$9,143 per ton (up 30.6% from 2024)
- Suriname: $4,889 per ton (up 166.7%)
- Iceland: $4,200 per ton (up 17%)
- Ukraine: $3,333 per ton (up 32%)
- St Maarten (Dutch): $3,333 per ton (up 66.7%)
- Tonga: $3,242 per ton (down 0%)
- Russia: $3,081 per ton (down -3.9%)
- Denmark: $2,881 per ton (down -6%)
- Sweden: $2,776 per ton (up 4.6%)
- Cameroon: $2,753 per ton (up 152.6%)
- Nicaragua: $2,700 per ton (down -37%)
- Greece: $2,622 per ton (up 61.3%)
- Haiti: $2,400 per ton (down -18.1%)
- Cuba: $2,286 per ton (down -33.3%)
- Japan: $2,138 per ton (up 5.5%)
The greatest percentage increases in terms of higher average unit prices paid in 2025 compared to 2024 were experienced by importers in Suriname (up 166.7%), Cameroon (up 152.6%), Saint Maarten–Dutch part (up 66.7%), Greece (up 61.3%) and Ukraine (up 32%).
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 2, 2026
Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on September 2, 2026
International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on September 2, 2026
Wikipedia, Asphalt. Accessed on September 2, 2026