India — Bitumen Exports to India
Iran Bitumen Supply to India: Bulk Bitumen 60/70 & VG30 for National Highways
India is the world's largest single consumer of paving-grade bitumen, and demand keeps climbing as Bharatmala Pariyojana pushes toward tens of thousands of kilometres of new national highway and expressway construction. Domestic refiners cover roughly 90% of that demand, but the remaining gap — concentrated during peak construction season and in states not well served by coastal refineries — is filled by imports, and Iranian-origin bitumen has become one of the most competitive sources on the table.
Why buyers source Iranian bitumen for India
Iran's Persian Gulf refineries sit a short sea voyage from India's western coast, giving importers shorter transit times than Middle Eastern competitors further from the Gulf and a real freight advantage over Southeast Asian and European suppliers. Iranian-origin cargoes are consistently price-competitive against domestic ex-refinery postings from IOCL, HPCL, and BPCL, which is exactly why traders quote them as a discount alternative during periods when Indian refinery prices firm up.
What India buys
- VG30 and VG40 (India's IS 73 viscosity-grade standard) for national highway and expressway paving
- Bitumen 60/70 penetration grade for state roads, rural connectivity (PMGSY-linked projects), and general contracting
- Bulk tanker and bitutainer shipments to Kandla, Mundra, and other west-coast terminals for large road contractors; drummed bitumen for buyers without bulk storage, smaller contractors, and remote project sites
Logistics reality
West-coast Indian ports are 4–6 days' sailing from Bandar Abbas, making Iran one of the fastest supply origins into the Indian market. We quote FOB Bandar Abbas as standard, with CFR to Kandla/Mundra/Nhava Sheva available on request for buyers who prefer a landed price. Expect standard export documentation (COA, MSDS, Certificate of Origin, SGS/third-party inspection) and plan procurement around India's construction season, since demand and pricing both tighten ahead of monsoon-driven paving windows.