Bitumen prices down for record low in 2010

Iranian Bitumen Prices down!!

we have a new record low price for bitumen in Iran since early 2010 now!
Bandar Abbas port in new steel drums (or bulk) from Jey and Pasargad oil refinery for as low as 400 USD per MT.

adding THC will give you rough price for FOB Bandar Abbas, which is about 413 USD per MT. the delivery is upon a 30-40 days period and it's important to notice the maximum partial shipment would be 3000 MT per month. I believe whoever promises more delivery will face problems in his duties. we have recently succeeded in LC payment terms but Iranian traders have still experiencing difficulties and problems with LC payments.
some FCR destinations have below costs to be added:

• Nheva Sheva, India - 10 USD per MT
• Shanghai, China - 7 USD per MT
• Jebel Ali, Dubai, UAE - 5.5 USD per MT
• African port like Mombasa, Kenya / Port Sudan - 65 USD per MT

how to deal with Bitumen business - packing sector

Packing industry has a big stake in bitumen business in Iran (also worldwide). the most common ways are bulk bitumen carrying, steel drums and Polybags. all the 3 methods are used widely in Iran and business in this regard sound promising for investors and medium size business owners. I've heard a lot from companies from EU and China about new inventions in this sector but haven't yet met any trader or refinery using these methods.

I personally prefer Polybags, as a business to start. why? because it's more innovative, needs less capital and has some advantages comparing to two other elder brothers! Some advantages using Bitumen packaging bags are:

1. Bitumen Packed In 35Kg (+/-5%) so it's easier for lifting & carriage
2. Environment friendly and  safer than Drums. Polybag melts along with Bitumen in melting process at site.
3. No waste Residual Bitumen left compared with Iron/steel drums.
4. Cleaner process all the way until reaching the end-user.

regarding Steel drums, let me advise you one thing: never go for used drums!! neither as a trader, nor as a customer. cold rolled steel drums coated in anti rust black with description as Follows:
Height: 98 cm
Diameter: 50 cm
Thickness: 5/6 mm
Gross Weight: 190 Kg
Net Weight: 180 Kg
Tolerance: +/-3%
these drums are much more expensive and the size of company capital needs to be tremendously higher.
and there are many big companies active in this field. the last dis-advantage about this business is you are always affected by fluctuations of metal prices world-wide.

costs: polybags are 20 USD per MT, Drums 30-35USD per MT and Bulk depends on transportation costs
also polybags are 50% cheaper in regard of human labor cost during the packing process.
and:
Cargo charges, melting process, waste handling and disposal, loss of material are other facts to be considered by traders.
the problem is the environment temperature, which should be lower than 30 degree Celsius.

well, if you have made up your mind and want to start a business in Iran regarding packing bitumen, you have to know many traders, buyers and all the main and major suppliers. for this reason maybe I can help you!

how to trade bitumen?

first of all, let me tell you this is about how to trade real bitumen! not trading bitumen as a commodity in commodity markets (like NYMEX or FOREX etc)
The real bitumen is used for many construction projects and industries like road and house constructions, resins and other chemical usages.

Trading bitumen means buying or selling, or importing and exporting bitumen from its sources in countries like Iran, to destinations like Africa, India, China or Europe.

To trade bitumen within Iranian resources you have to buy it from:
a. Iran Mercantile Exchange Market
b. a dealer

a) in this case, you have to be authorized by IME. this happens when you register a company in Iran and provide the IME with enough documents on your technical and financial abilities to deal bitumen internationally. when you got authorized, you can buy bitumen from sources like Jey and Pasargad refinery directly. you buy in Exchange Market and you got the delivery in factory or in ports.

b) if you are trying to buy from a dealer, you agree on the payment terms and delivery conditions, you provide less documents and efforts, but you pay 5-10 USD per Metric Ton more. it's really important to buy from someone who has a good reputation. Don't involve yourself with middle man and commissioners who are not authorized dealers themselves.

I can help you with both above ways. feel free to contact me emad at irxp dot com

Investing your capital and time in Bitumen business?

How do you feel about starting a new business in bitumen field?! My main business is providing marketing consultancy services to international companies who want to market and promote their brand, products or services in Iran, I also import industrial equipments and export raw materials from Iran. so simply bitumen can not be my main business. but I've learned a lot about bitumen related business in my own country which I'd like to share with you. so if you are wondering how to start an asphalt business, here are some suggestions to help you get off to the best possible start, but first remember, I look from this direction: Iran is exporter of bitumen and you are probably investing your new business inside Iran:
in this post I will list the title businesses and in future posts I will extract details about each case:

1. Trading Bitumen
2. Packing business (drumming, bagging etc)
3. transportation
4. shipping forwarders
5. sub-products and services
6. road construction
7. producing butimen
8. producing related products

what's the common issue among all above issues? bitumen!
I will write you guys back soon...

Bitumen pricing

ICIS is a Bitumen Pricing report firm with reports every month on Bitumen market, price changes and market stats. I use their service to keep up to date with other countries and origins. I recommend you to check it as well, but remember, the prices they provide won't be the last price you can get. there are other issues not mentioned in these reports and prices are few percents different from what the end client may get.
the reports include:

• The relevance and accuracy of prices/grades reported
• General feedback on the content and commentary of the prototype
• Whether you would purchase the report if the report was to launch?

 check the site here: www.icis.com

PET flake

My company is now providing new product: PET Flakes
these flakes are produced from low PVC bottles and other PET products, completely clear, white, washed and packed in 35kg bags to reduce the transportation costs.
Our recycling and flake making machine and warehouse is located in south west of Tehran, so our transportation costs are optimized. the treatment process is including crushing, washing, separating and drying is completely held in the factory.

More specification:
Place of Origin: Iran
PVC PPM below 100 (PVC impurity included in recycled PET)
color: white

Capacity: Maximum 240 MT per month
Price (20-June-2010):
Tehran (factory): 795 USD
Bandar Abbas Port: 819.5 USD
FOB Bandar Abbas: 822

PLEASE CONTACT FOR UPDATED PRICE

CFR Shanghai or any other Chinese, Hong Kong, India or other destinations are available.
delivery 3 weeks from the order

India and Middle East bitumen trade report

The below report is generated by ICIS Pricing about bitumen trade state and pricing on 13 May 2010. for full report and other regions' data visit their website or contact Nadine.Spoeri[at]icis[dot]com for subscription enquirers.

As demand for imports continued to slow in India ahead of the country’s monsoon season, downward pricing pressure was seen on Iranian export prices. A 1,000 tonne bulk fixture for the Middle East markets was heard at $410/tonne FOB Bandar Abbas. With the possibility to export to India from June to August remaining very limited, most Iranian exports would find their way to Africa or the Middle Eastern markets.

Meanwhile, in the Indian domestic market, local prices remained stable after the rupee depreciated versus the US dollar, therefore neutralizing the impact of slightly lower CFR prices. List prices were unchanged at rupee (Rs) 26-27/kg ex-refinery with additional discounts of Rs 3-4/kg applicable on these list prices.

The outlook for pricing in the next three months remained soft amid the traditional rainy season low demand. The demand during this time would reduce to 25-30% of the normal and local refineries would divert production to fuel oil.

Turkey Market looks for Iranian Bitumen?

in the past 4 years in the market, I've always asked myself why the deals are limited between Iran and few countries. those I know are Kenya, India, Sudan, Iraq, Pakistan, China, Tajikistan and some more countries. but for example Azerbaijan and Turkey in neighborhood have never been in the list, as far as I know.
Turkey has a big market for construction and bitumen is surely needed for many road construction and other necessities. I had an email from a Turkish bitumen trader which I responded:

Dear Mr.Emad,
We are a young trading firm from Turkey, regarding petrochemicals.
We want to supply Iran bitumen to Turkish construction firms.
Therefore we want to make co-operation with you.
I prepared a sample chart to show our customers.
Please check it and advise us if we have to add somethings.
With which refinery do you make business? JEY or Pasargad?
How much quantity do you supply us max.?
Payment terms?
And, I will meet big construction firms this week, most probably they will ask me the valid price of bitumen.Could you please give me drum and bulk price?
For bulk, do you or customer arrange ISO tank?
Best Regards,
Serkan OZTURK

I responded:

Hi Serken,
Thanks for your email. I’d be pleased to cooperate with you. As you might found out, I’m a trader/dealer of bitumen, not a supplier.
We buy from both Jey and Pasargad refineries. We pay in cash mostly and this is a key problem now. because if we want to apply on LC, we have to finance the deal ourselves which depending on the case may need 500,000 up to millions of dollars. And sometimes it’s not possible for us.
I checked the charts, they are standard and fine, you may find more details on packing etc on Jey refinery, Pasargad Oil and Iran mercantile Exchange market websites.
We can supply up to 4-5K MT per month.
Payment is preferred to be in cash! (obviously everybody prefers to receive cash!) but if I can finance the deal, I will accept LC.
Price for in drums is roughly 530 USD per MT, for bulk it starts from 400, depending on the location.
Will keep in contact with you, if you were interested in other fields, let me know as well.
Warm regards,

Emad Honarparvar

* don't consider the price up to date since the email is a little bit old.

Iran Oil and Gas Exhibition ended

The 15th International Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Exhibition covered more than 10 task forces including consultant engineer groups, spare parts constructors, technical and commercial service provider companies, oil products producers, processing equipments producers, fuel consumption efficiency companies and research and training sector, general contractors, companies active in information technology fields.
among these companies you could find most of major Iranian bitumen suppliers like Pasargad and Jey refineries.

to me it sounds like iranian bitumen suppliers are losing their int'l markets since the local demand is too much and likely to take over the national bitumen supplement. just like the petrol we have to import though we have large reservoir of crude oil, I can see in future we have to import bitumen to supply our road constructions and other related projects.

the price of Iranian bitumen is still high for the same reason, but the higher quality comparing to other bitumen suppliers is still a reason for constructors to buy Iranian bitumen.

Where to check bitumen prices online

it seems the bitumen market is getting hot again as the oil prices are rally and as a side effect (certainly lagging a little bit) bitumen prices follow crude oil prices. a friend has asked:

Dear Mr.Emad,

I have seen your site about bitumen in Iran and was awfully appreciated.
As a broker,I need a site to be aware about daily price up and downs in Iran,is there any?
It helps me to accelerate my contacts and responding to emails I receive.
I have sent you email via Hotmail but not sure about receiving it maybe Virus prevent it to drop.
Hope to have fruitful coordinating in a two sides benefits all time.

the answer is easy, Iran's bitumen is traded in Iran Mercantile Exchange market which you can check on their website or you can check our updated price here: Iran Bitumen Market
right now the prices of Bitumen are as below:

Pasargad Oil bitumen 60-70 Abadan 390 USD per metric Tonne FOB Abadan
Pasargad Oil bitumen 60-70 Arak 390 USD per metric Tonne FCA Arak
Pasargad Oil bitumen 60-70 Bandar Abbas 430 USD per metric Tonne FOB Bandar Abbas
Pasargad Oil bitumen 60-70 Tehran 390 USD per metric Tonne FCA Tehran
Pasargad Oil bitumen 85-100 Tabriz 390 USD per metric Tonne FCA tabriz
Pasargad Oil bitumen 60-70 Shiraz 390 USD per metric Tonne FCA Shiraz

you have to add roughly 100 USD per MT for drumming and transportation costs + THC at port + financial costs if you are buying from a dealer. right now as far as I know it make it 580 USD per MT FOB Bandar Abbas in new steel drums considering above costs.

Iran Bitumen Analysis specification

Iran Bitumen Analysis

Specifications	Bitumen 40/50	Blown Bitumen 60/70	Bitumen 80/100	Penetration Bitumen 85/100	Test Method
Specific Gravity@25/25C	1.01-1.06	1.01-1.06	1.01-1.05	1.00-1.05	D-70
Penetration@25C	40/50	60/70	80/100	85/100	D-5
Softening Point C	52/60	49/56	45/52	45/52	D-36
Ductility@25C	100Min.	100min	100min	100min	D-113
Loss on Heating (wt%)	0.2Max.	0.2Max.	0.5Max.	0.5Max.	D-6
Drop in Penetration after Heating %	20Max.	20Max.	20Max.	20Max.	D-6 & D-5
Flash Point C	250Min.	250Min.	225Min.	225Min.	D-92
Solubility in (wt%)	99.5Min.	99.5Min.	99.5Min.	99.5Min.	D-4
Spot Test	Negative	Negative	Negative	Negative	A.A.A.S.H.O.T.102

American Association of Stat Highway Officials

PACKING DETAILS: For one 20’Container load, the packings are as follows

Weight	Weight per drum	Number of Drums per container	per 20 feet container
Net weight: Gross weight:	150kg(+/- 3kg)per drum 160kg(+/- 3kg)per drum	110 drums	18.5MT(+/-3%) 19.6MT(+/-3%)
Net weight: Gross weight:	180kg(+/- 3kg)per drum 190kg(+/- 3kg)per drum	110 drums	19.8MT(+/-3%) 20.9MT(+/-3%)
Net weight: Gross weight:	200kg(+/- 3kg)per drum 217kg(+/- 3kg)per drum	80 drums	16.0MT(+/-3%) 17.4MT(+/-3%)

BULK CARGO:
*For FOB Bulk,the buyer can arrange the Vessel(Tanker) at the loading at the port.
*The source of bitumen is Iran
*Loading port is always Bandar Abbas
*Shipment often is 21 to 30 days after receiving your transferable L/C (dividable LC).
*The surveyor for Bitumen is SGS