East Asia Bitumen Market: Rising Prices, Limited Execution

Taraneh Naraghi

May 18, 2026

3 minutes

The East Asian bitumen market remains firm, but buyers are becoming more selective. In today’s market, low prices alone are no longer enough. Buyers are paying closer attention to supply reliability, cargo availability, and delivery timing before making purchasing decisions.

According to the latest market assessments, Singapore FOB was reported at $556–$568/mt, while South Korea FOB increased to $523–$534/mt. Although both benchmarks moved higher this week, trading activity across the region remains cautious.

Malaysia: Stable Market, Slower Demand

The Malaysian market is relatively stable compared to previous weeks, and supply pressure has reduced immediately. However, seasonal rainfall and ongoing cost pressure continue to slow project activity and keep buyers cautious.
Suppliers offering flexible cargo options and workable delivery terms are now in a stronger position.

China: Demand Still Active, But Selective

China’s import market remains generally supported, with no major signs of short-term weakness. However, buyers are carefully comparing import offers with domestic prices and inland logistics costs.

Reliable supply and delivery timing are becoming more important than price alone.

Demand is still present, but buyers remain focused on offers they believe can be executed smoothly.

Singapore: Main Benchmark Still Firm

Singapore remains the main benchmark for the Asian bitumen market. Lower refinery output in parts of the region continues to support prices, although softer demand in some countries is limiting stronger increases.
Singapore is no longer the best option for every buyer. Some importers still prefer it because of stable quality and reliable supply, while others mainly use Singapore prices to compare alternative origins.

Vietnam: Buyer-Seller Gap Remains Wide

The pricing gap between buyers and sellers in Vietnam remains wide. Buyers continue pushing for lower prices, while many suppliers consider current bid levels too low.
As a result, trading activity remains slow, with much of the market still focused on price discussions rather than firm deals.

South Korea: Competitive Prices, Tight Supply

South Korea FOB increased by around $7.5/mt week-on-week, reaching $523–$534/mt. Prices remain competitive compared to other regional origins, but June-loading availability is becoming tighter.

Buyers delaying decisions may still see attractive prices, but on time cargo availability is becoming more limited.

Indonesia: Timing Driving the Market

Although Indonesian domestic prices have decreased slightly from previous highs, the market remains relatively elevated overall.
Importers with urgent requirements are still securing urgent cargoes, while others prefer to wait for clearer short-term market direction.
In Indonesia, delivery timing is currently more important than price alone.

Insight by Taraneh Naraghi from Infinity galaxy

This week’s East Asian market continues to send a clear message:

Not every low-priced offer can be delivered smoothly.
Singapore remains the region’s main benchmark, although it is not always the best fit for every destination. South Korea continues attracting interest, but is difficult to access quickly.
Malaysia requires careful monitoring of local demand conditions. China remains active, but buyers are focusing mainly on reliable offers. Vietnam is still facing a wide buyer-seller pricing gap, while Indonesia remains highly sensitive to cargo timing.
In today’s market, fast quotations alone are not enough. Buyers are paying more attention to supply origin, cargo timing, and execution reliability before making commitments.
If your target market is Malaysia, China, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, or South Korea, procurement decisions should not be based only on headline prices. Understanding which origin is realistically workable for each destination is becoming increasingly important.

We can also discuss which supply origins may currently work best for your destination and project timing.