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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 2021, worldwide export sales of asphalt from all countries totaled US$2.8 billion.

Asphalt exports flatlined by an average -1.2% downturn since 2017 when export sales for asphalt were $2.84 billion.

Year over year, the dollar value of exported asphalt accelerated by 76.5% compared to $1.59 billion for 2020.

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.

Key Geographic Facts about Asphalt Exports & Imports

By value, the 5 biggest exporters of asphalt are Russia, Singapore, Namibia, Canada and Spain. Together, that leading subset of suppliers generated over two-thirds (71.7%) of all international asphalt exported during 2021.

From a continental perspective, countries in Europe sold the highest dollar worth of exported asphalt during 2021 with shipments valued at $1.5 billion or 53.5% of the global total. In second place were exporters in Asia (32.8%) trailed by North America (6.9%) and Africa (5.7%). Tinier percentages originated from Latin America (0.06%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, and Oceania’s (0.03%) New Zealand and Australia only.

Shifting our focus to imports, the 5 leading importers of asphalt in 2021 are mainland China, United Arab Emirates, South Korea, Malaysia and the United States of America. Combined, that quintet of top import countries bought 90.7% of globally imported asphalt as measured by dollar value.

Those percentages suggest the total 100 asphalt exporters (71.7% for corresponding top 5 exporters) is a more concentrated cohort compared to 199 buying countries, islands and territories. However, the top 5 importers consumed a more intensive 90.7% propelled by a world-leading share of asphalt imports spearheaded by mainland China.

As for the global imports by continent, 90.2% of asphalt was delivered to countries in Asia ahead of importers in Europe (4.5%), Latin America (2.7%) excluding Mexico but including the Caribbean, North America (1.7%), Africa (0.7%), and Oceania (0.2%) led by New Zealand and Australia.

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 2021.

  1. Russia: US$1.1 billion (38.2% of total exported asphalt)
  2. Singapore: $616.2 million (22%)
  3. Namibia: $120.3 million (4.3%)
  4. Canada: $112.5 million (4%)
  5. Spain: $89.4 million (3.2%)
  6. Germany: $83 million (3%)
  7. United States: $81.6 million (2.9%)
  8. Japan: $68 million (2.4%)
  9. Belgium: $60.3 million (2.2%)
  10. Netherlands: $60.3 million (2.2%)
  11. Iraq: $52 million (1.9%)
  12. Malaysia: $47.5 million (1.7%)
  13. United Arab Emirates: $37 million (1.3%)
  14. Austria: $28.8 million (1%)
  15. China: $25.3 million (0.9%)

By value, the listed 15 countries shipped 91.1% of globally exported asphalt in 2021.

Among the top exporters, the fastest-growing asphalt exporters since 2020 were: Namibia (up 6013000.0%), China (up 498.1%), Russia (up 399.8%) and Iraq (up 307.1%).

Malaysia was the sole leading supplier that posted a drop in its exported asphalt sales from 2020 to 2021, down by -79.9%.

Top Asphalt Imports by Country

The overall cost for imported asphalt was $9.54 billion for 2021, up by 253.5% over the 5-year period starting in 2017 and accelerated by 91% from 2020 to 2021.

Below are the 15 best buying markets as measured by the highest dollar value worth of asphalt imported during 2021.

  1. China: US$7.4 billion (78% of total imported asphalt)
  2. United Arab Emirates: $661.1 million (6.9%)
  3. South Korea: $270.6 million (2.8%)
  4. Malaysia: $147.8 million (1.5%)
  5. United States: $128.3 million (1.3%)
  6. Chile: $83.5 million (0.9%)
  7. Netherlands: $61.2 million (0.6%)
  8. United Kingdom: $43.2 million (0.5%)
  9. Paraguay: $40.3 million (0.4%)
  10. Dominican Republic: $37.5 million (0.4%)
  11. France: $30.2 million (0.3%)
  12. Panama: $30 million (0.3%)
  13. Canada: $28.7 million (0.3%)
  14. Switzerland: $28.4 million (0.3%)
  15. Brazil: $27.3 million (0.3%)

By value, the listed 15 countries bought 95% of globally imported asphalt in 2021.

Among the top importers, the fastest-growing asphalt importers since 2020 were: United Arab Emirates (up 34,565%), South Korea (up 1,173%), Malaysia (up 562.4%) and Chile (up 135.6%).

Not one major supplier posted a decline in its imported asphalt purchases. Canada was the slowest grower year over year via a 8.6% advance from 2020.

Lowest and Highest Unit Prices for Imported Asphalt

Worldwide, the average unit price paid by asphalt importers was $320 per ton in 2021. That dollar metric reflects a 26.1% increase over 2020.

The average tonnage charge for the number one asphalt importer, mainland China, was above average at $386 per ton.

Ranked in ascending order, listed below are the countries paying the cheapest average unit prices for imported asphalt in 2021.

  1. Trinidad & Tobago: US$1 per ton (down -26.1% from 2020)
  2. Ireland: $137 per ton (down -29%)
  3. Gibraltar: $168 per ton (down -4%)
  4. Austria: $174 per ton (up 9.4%)
  5. France: $190 per ton (up 7.3%)
  6. Slovenia: $200 per ton (up 2%)
  7. Uzbekistan: $227 per ton (down -22.5%)
  8. Portugal: $252 per ton (up 10.5%)
  9. Antigua & Barbuda: $286 per ton (down -92.9%)
  10. South Sudan: $307 per ton (down -64.5%)
  11. Senegal: $309 per ton (down -11.2%)
  12. Tajikistan: $330 per ton (down -5.7%)
  13. Guam: $338 per ton (up 53.6%)
  14. Slovakia: $347 per ton (down -4.9%)
  15. Gambia: $347 per ton (down -52.7%)

Experiencing the greatest reductions in average unit price paid per ton for asphalt from 2020 to 2021 were low-cost importers Antigua & Barbuda (down -92.9%), South Sudan (down -64.5%), Gambia (down -52.7%), Ireland (down -29%), Trinidad & Tobago (down -26.1%) and Uzbekistan (down -22.5%).

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

  1. Congo: US$8,865 per ton (up 987.7% from 2020)
  2. Barbados: $6,500 per ton (up 26.4%)
  3. St Vincent & Grenadines: $5,222 per ton (up 30.6%)
  4. Venezuela: $4,667 per ton (up 330.9%)
  5. Bonaire, St Eustatius & Saba: $4,333 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  6. Bahrain: $3,649 per ton (up 96.9%)
  7. Saudi Arabia: $3,457 per ton (up 57.3%)
  8. Belize: $3,000 per ton (down -40%)
  9. Dominica: $3,000 per ton (2020 data unavailable)
  10. St Maarten (Dutch): $3,000 per ton (up 200%)
  11. Jordan: $2,963 per ton (up 227.4%)
  12. El Salvador: $2,947 per ton (up 3.5%)
  13. Greece: $2,708 per ton (up 117%)
  14. Algeria: $2,505 per ton (up 84.2%)
  15. Saint Helena: $2,401 per ton (up 500.3%)

There were 6 triple-digit spikes in terms of higher average unit prices in 2021 compared to 2020 paid by importers in Congo (up 987.7%), Saint Helena (up 500.3%), Venezuela (up 330.9%), Jordan (up 227.4%), Saint Maarten–Dutch part (up 200%) and Greece (up 117%).

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 November 23, 2022

Central Intelligence Agency, The World Factbook Field Listing: Exports – Commodities. Accessed on November 23, 2022

International Trade Centre, Trade Map. Accessed on November 23, 2022

Wikipedia, Asphalt. Accessed on November 23, 2022