Weekly Bitumen Report: Six Months into the War, the Crisis Is No Longer Temporary; Brent Near $92 as Supply Chains Are Being Redrawn

Six months into the war, disruptions around Hormuz are reshaping global energy trade. Brent neared $92 as longer routes, shifting suppliers, and financial restrictions increased costs. Bitumen markets remained mixed, with weak demand in Asia and Europe and continued shipping challenges for Iran exports.

Africa Bitumen Market Update: After 60 Days, Supply Is Returning. Normality Isn’t

After 60 days, bitumen supply is returning to parts of Africa, but market conditions remain far from normal. Higher replacement costs, freight and execution risks continue to shape buying decisions, while West, East and Southern Africa move in different directions.

Weekly Bitumen Report: US-Iran Talks Remain Deadlocked, Hormuz Strait Still Closed; Brent Returns to Nearly $89

US-Iran talks remain deadlocked as Hormuz Strait traffic stays severely restricted, while renewed Red Sea attacks add to maritime risk. Brent returned toward $90/bbl amid tightening supply expectations. Bitumen markets diverged, with Europe correcting lower while Asia remains supported by tight supply.

East Asia Bitumen Market, Supply Tightness Is Changing Regional Buying Options

East Asia’s bitumen market is seeing tighter supply, but demand remains selective. Singapore and Thailand face limited availability, while South Korea and China are gaining attention as alternative origins. Indonesia shows early restocking, but buyers remain focused on price, availability and delivery timing.

Weekly Bitumen Report: Market Caught Between Hope and Disruption: Brent Falls, but Bitumen Prices Resist

Brent crude dropped back to around $79 as optimism over diplomacy eased immediate geopolitical fears. However, Bitumen Prices remained resilient because Hormuz Strait restrictions, elevated shipping risks, and limited export capacity continued to disrupt supply, particularly across Iran and Asian markets.

Africa Bitumen Market Update: Different Realities Behind Market Changes

Africa’s bitumen market is showing different realities across regions. While some markets see lower replacement costs, freight, cargo availability, and delivery risks continue to shape buying decisions. This update explores why price alone is no longer enough to evaluate the best opportunity.

Weekly Bitumen Report: The Pause in Attacks Did Not Hold; Brent Stayed Above $87 as Middle East Shipping Risk Returned

The ceasefire hopes quickly faded as military operations resumed, keeping Brent above $87 and geopolitical risks high. While Asian bitumen markets remained relatively firm despite weak demand, Europe gained on tighter supply. Iran exports stayed constrained by shipping disruptions, leaving logistics—not pricing—the market’s biggest challenge.

East Asia Bitumen Market Crude Above $85, Tight Supply, Buyers Remain Cautious

Crude above $85 and tighter regional supply continue to support East Asian bitumen prices, but demand remains cautious due to rainfall and budget constraints. China is strengthening as a regional supplier, while buyers increasingly prioritize cargo availability, freight, loading schedules, and execution reliability over price alone.

Weekly Bitumen Report: Hormuz Strait Traffic Nearly Stops as the Red Sea Route Enters Crisis; Brent Rises Above $96

The global bitumen market faced mounting pressure as Hormuz Strait traffic nearly stopped and the Red Sea emerged as a second shipping chokepoint. Brent crude climbed above $96, while freight costs, war-risk premiums, and supply disruptions became more influential than FOB prices.

Africa's Bitumen Market Is Splitting, Not Recovering

Africa's bitumen market is moving in different directions. West Africa faces higher replacement costs despite weak demand, while East Africa sees lower prices but tighter supply and shipping constraints. **At Infinity Galaxy, we believe procurement today depends less on headline prices and more on cargo availability, logistics, and delivery certainty.