Bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob is the free-on-board unit price for penetration-grade 60/70 bitumen, quoted before freight and insurance, and it moves with crude and regional supply conditions rather than staying fixed. Buyers should confirm the cargo's grade against ASTM D946/D946M-20 or I.S. EN 12591:2009, check the HS/HTS customs classification, and compare quotes against a public reference index before ordering. BHD Group, through its BHD Chemical division, supplies bitumen to the 60/70 penetration grade under this pricing model.
Bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob is the FOB (free-on-board) unit price quoted for penetration-grade 60/70 bitumen loaded at the export port, before freight, insurance and destination duties are added. It moves with crude oil and refinery output, so the number a supplier quotes today is a snapshot, not a fixed catalogue price. This guide explains what shapes that quote, which standards a 60/70 cargo must meet, and what to check before you commit to an order.
Who this guide is for
This page is written for three readers who search for bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob for different reasons.
- Road and asphalt contractors pricing a paving job who need a defensible FOB number for a tender or budget.
- Importers and traders comparing offers across origins and needing to know what the FOB price does and does not include.
- QA and technical buyers who sign off on a cargo and need to confirm it meets the penetration grade specified in the contract.
What is bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob?
FOB pricing for bitumen 60/70 covers the product loaded onto the vessel at the seller's port, packed or in bulk, with the buyer responsible for freight and insurance from that point (Incoterms FOB). The "60/70" refers to the penetration grade: a needle-penetration test result between 60 and 70 tenths of a millimetre at 25°C, one of the grades covered by ASTM D946/D946M-20, which specifies penetration grades 40-50, 60-70, 85-100, 120-150 and 200-300 for asphalt cements manufactured by refining crude petroleum (ASTM International, 2020). The equivalent European reference is I.S. EN 12591:2009, the current standard specifying requirements and test methods for paving grade bitumens, including a normative annex for calculating the penetration index (National Standards Authority of Ireland, 2009).
How does bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob work?
An FOB quote is built from several layers, and a buyer comparing two offers should separate them rather than compare a single headline figure.
What moves the base price
Bitumen tracks crude and fuel-oil markets. Argus Media, which assesses global bitumen spot prices alongside differentials to crude and HSFO and freight rates, reported that India's bitumen imports fell by 50 percent year-on-year in the first half of 2026 amid the US-Iran conflict (Argus Media, 2026) — a reminder that regional supply shocks move FOB levels independently of a single supplier's cost base.
How public reference prices are built
Several US state transport agencies publish reference prices that show the mechanics buyers can borrow for their own comparisons. The Washington State Department of Transportation's asphalt binder reference cost is the average of the selling price for each Friday during the specified period (WSDOT, undated). The Kansas Department of Transportation's Monthly Asphalt Material Index tracks monthly price changes per short ton for asphalt materials such as PG 64-22, with data going back to 2015 (Kansas Department of Transportation, undated). Arkansas publishes a comparable Asphalt Binder Price Index for construction contracts, with separate contractor workbooks for lettings before and from February 2024 (Arkansas Department of Transportation, undated). None of these indices quotes an FOB export price directly, but they show how often reference prices should be refreshed — weekly to monthly, not once a quarter.
Customs classification and documentation
Cross-border bitumen cargoes are classified for customs purposes. HTS subheading 2715.00.00.00 covers bituminous mixtures based on natural asphalt, natural bitumen, petroleum bitumen, mineral tar or mineral tar pitch, including bituminous mastics and cut-backs (U.S. International Trade Commission, undated). Harmonized System (HS) codes of this kind are used throughout the import and export process to classify goods for duty and reporting purposes (International Trade Administration, undated). Confirm the correct code applies to your shipment before it is booked, not after.
Standards a 60/70 cargo should meet
| Standard | What it measures | Why a buyer checks it |
|---|---|---|
| ASTM D946/D946M-20 | Penetration grading (40-50 to 200-300) for petroleum-refined asphalt cements | Confirms the cargo is graded and tested against a recognised US specification, including the 60-70 band |
| I.S. EN 12591:2009 | Requirements and test methods for paving grade bitumens, plus a penetration index calculation | The reference European buyers and contractors expect to see cited on a certificate of analysis |
| HTS 2715.00.00.00 | Customs classification of bituminous mixtures, mastics and cut-backs | Determines duty treatment and correct customs documentation at the border |
The benefits of tracking bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob properly
Treating the FOB price as a moving figure, not a fixed quote, has practical benefits for a buyer. It lets a contractor build tender pricing with a realistic margin against crude-driven swings. It lets an importer compare offers on a like-for-like basis — FOB versus FOB, not FOB versus a landed price that already includes freight. And it lets a QA team flag a cargo whose paperwork does not cite a recognised penetration standard before it is loaded, not after it arrives.
Bitumen 60/70 price per ton fob: comparison of what a quote can and cannot tell you
| Comparison point | FOB quote alone | FOB quote plus reference data |
|---|---|---|
| Reflects current market movement | Only as current as the quote date | Checked against a published index or spot assessment for context |
| Confirms grade compliance | Not unless a standard is cited | Verified against ASTM D946/D946M or EN 12591 test methods |
| Covers customs classification | Not included | Confirmed against the correct HS/HTS code before booking |
| Comparable across suppliers | Risky — terms may differ | Comparable once Incoterm, grade standard and index basis are matched |
What to check before you order
- Confirm the Incoterm is FOB and identify exactly which costs the quoted price covers.
- Ask which standard the cargo is graded to — ASTM D946/D946M or I.S. EN 12591 — and request the certificate of analysis.
- Confirm the penetration result sits within the 60-70 band before loading, not on arrival.
- Check the quote date against a public reference or index so you know how current the price is.
- Verify the HS/HTS code applied to the shipment matches the cargo description.
- Clarify packaging (drums or bulk) and how that affects the per-ton figure.
- Confirm loading port, laycan and any demurrage terms in writing.
- Ask for freight and insurance estimates separately so you can calculate a landed cost yourself.
Quick facts
- Bitumen 60/70 is a penetration grade covered by ASTM D946/D946M-20, alongside 40-50, 85-100, 120-150 and 200-300 (ASTM International, 2020).
- I.S. EN 12591:2009 is the current European standard for paving grade bitumen test methods (National Standards Authority of Ireland, 2009).
- FOB pricing excludes freight and insurance — those are added to reach a landed cost.
- India's bitumen imports fell 50 percent year-on-year in H1 2026 amid the US-Iran conflict, per Argus Media (2026).
- Cross-border bitumen shipments are classified under HTS 2715.00.00.00 (U.S. International Trade Commission, undated).
Working with BHD Group
BHD Group operates two divisions — BHD Chemical and BHD Sourcing — one accountable house behind both. Bitumen sits within the BHD Chemical range, supplied to the 60/70 penetration grade buyers ask for by name. We do not quote a number we cannot stand behind, and we do not round a spec to make a cargo fit. If you are pricing a shipment, tell us the loading port, quantity and timeline, and we will work the quote from there — on spec and on time.
Sources
- ASTM International (2020): ASTM D946/D946M-20: Standard Specification for Penetration-Graded Asphalt Binder for Use in Pavement Construction — store.astm.org/d0946_d0946m-20.html
- National Standards Authority of Ireland (2009): I.S. EN 12591:2009 — Bitumen and Bituminous Binders — Specifications for Paving Grade Bitumens — shop.standards.ie
- Argus Media (2026): Asphalt & bitumen prices, news and analysis — argusmedia.com
- Washington State Department of Transportation (undated): Asphalt Binder Reference Cost — wsdot.wa.gov
- Kansas Department of Transportation (undated): Asphalt Adjustment Price Index — ksdot.gov
- Arkansas Department of Transportation (undated): Asphalt Binder Price Index — ardot.gov
- U.S. International Trade Commission (undated): HTS 2715.00.00.00 — hts.usitc.gov
- International Trade Administration (undated): Harmonized System (HS) Codes — trade.gov
Frequently asked questions
What is bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob?
It is the free-on-board unit price for penetration-grade 60/70 bitumen, covering the product loaded at the export port before freight, insurance and destination duties are added. The 60/70 grade is one of the penetration bands covered by ASTM D946/D946M-20 (ASTM International, 2020).
How does bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob work?
The FOB figure is built from the base market price, which tracks crude and fuel-oil movements, plus the seller's loading costs; freight, insurance and duties are added separately by the buyer. Public reference indices such as WSDOT's asphalt binder reference cost and KDOT's Monthly Asphalt Material Index show how often such prices are typically refreshed — weekly to monthly.
What are the benefits of bitumen 60 70 price per ton fob?
Tracking it as FOB, rather than a bundled landed price, lets a buyer compare supplier offers on a like-for-like basis, build tender pricing with a realistic margin, and confirm the cargo's penetration grade and customs classification before it is loaded rather than after arrival.
Why buyers work with BHD Group
Two divisions operate under a single accountable house. There is no handoff between a trading desk and a sourcing desk that leaves a buyer chasing an answer — one team owns the order from enquiry to delivery.
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