Oil & Gas
Bitumen supply — 60/70, 80/100, VG and PG grades
CRS PLUS supplies penetration-grade, viscosity-grade and performance-grade paving bitumen, with oxidised, cutback, emulsion and polymer-modified grades sourced on request, in drums, jumbo bags and bulk. Each parcel ships with its certificate of analysis stating the refinery of origin.
Grades supplied
Listing does not indicate stock held by CRS PLUS. Availability, origin and lead time are confirmed per enquiry, and every quotation states the certificate of analysis that governs the parcel.
| Family | Standard | Grades | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penetration grades | ASTM D 946 / EN 12591 |
| Graded by needle penetration at 25 °C in tenths of a millimetre. 60/70 is the most widely traded paving grade in the Gulf, Levant and Africa; 80/100 is used in cooler climates and for emulsion manufacture. |
| Viscosity grades | IS 73 / ASTM D 3381 |
| Graded by absolute viscosity at 60 °C. VG 30 broadly corresponds to 60/70 and is specified on projects following Indian standards. |
| Performance grades | AASHTO M 320 |
| Graded by the pavement temperature range the binder is designed for. Specified on Gulf highway and airport projects following Superpave. |
| Oxidised (blown) bitumen | ASTM D 312 |
| Air-blown to raise the softening point. Used for roofing, waterproofing, pipe coating and industrial applications rather than paving. |
| Cutback bitumen | ASTM D 2027 / D 2028 |
| Bitumen fluxed with a petroleum solvent for prime and tack coats. MC = medium curing, RC = rapid curing. |
| Bitumen emulsion | ASTM D 977 / D 2397 |
| Bitumen dispersed in water with an emulsifier. Cationic (C) and anionic grades, slow (SS), medium (MS) and rapid setting (RS). |
| Polymer modified bitumen | EN 14023 |
| Modified with SBS or other polymers for improved elasticity, rutting and fatigue resistance on heavy-traffic and high-temperature pavements. |
Bitumen 60/70 vs 80/100 vs VG 30
The three grades most often compared on enquiries. 60/70 and 80/100 sit in the same penetration series; VG 30 is the viscosity-graded near-equivalent of 60/70 used where Indian standards apply.
| Property | 60/70 | 80/100 | VG 30 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grading basis | Needle penetration at 25 °C | Needle penetration at 25 °C | Absolute viscosity at 60 °C |
| Standard | ASTM D 946 / EN 12591 | ASTM D 946 / EN 12591 | IS 73 |
| Relative hardness | Harder | Softer | Broadly equivalent to 60/70 |
| Climate suited | Hot climates, heavy traffic | Moderate climates, emulsion base | Hot climates |
| Typical use | Gulf, Levant and African paving | Cooler regions, chip seals, emulsions | Projects following Indian standards |
Packing and delivery
Steel drums
150 kg and 180 kg new steel drums, 80 drums per 20-foot container. The standard for export to Africa and the Levant.
Jumbo bags
300 kg to 1,000 kg polymer-lined bags for bulk-to-bag supply where drum handling is impractical.
Bulk
Heated road tankers within the Gulf; bulk vessel or ISO tank for larger parcels.
Bitutainers
Heated containerised tanks for bulk delivery to sites without hot storage.
What the certificate of analysis reports
No specification figures are published here, because CRS PLUS sources from several refineries and each issues its own certificate. Every parcel ships with a certificate of analysis reporting the parameters below against the stated test methods, and naming the refinery of origin.
| Parameter | Test method |
|---|---|
| Penetration at 25 °C | ASTM D 5 / EN 1426 |
| Softening point (ring and ball) | ASTM D 36 / EN 1427 |
| Ductility at 25 °C | ASTM D 113 |
| Flash point (Cleveland open cup) | ASTM D 92 / EN ISO 2592 |
| Solubility in trichloroethylene | ASTM D 2042 |
| Density at 25 °C | ASTM D 70 |
| Loss on heating (thin film oven) | ASTM D 1754 / EN 12607 |
| Retained penetration after TFOT | ASTM D 5 |
| Absolute viscosity at 60 °C (VG grades) | ASTM D 2171 |
| Kinematic viscosity at 135 °C | ASTM D 2170 |
Supply terms
- Origin
- Refineries and terminal operators in the Gulf and Middle East within the qualified supplier base. Stated on each quotation and certificate of analysis. Only sanctions-compliant origins are supplied.
- Incoterms
- FOB Gulf ports as standard. CFR and CIF to Red Sea, East and West African and Mediterranean ports.
- Packing
- 150 kg and 180 kg steel drums, jumbo bags, bulk tanker, bulk vessel, ISO tank or bitutainer.
- Unit of trade
- Metric ton. From one 20-foot container of drums to multi-thousand-ton bulk parcels.
- Documentation
- Certificate of analysis per lot, certificate of origin, commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading. Letter-of-credit documentation supported.
- HS classification
- Heading 2713.20 for petroleum bitumen; 2715.00 for emulsions and cutbacks. Sub-heading confirmed against the importing tariff.
Frequently asked questions
What does bitumen 60/70 mean?
The numbers are the penetration range: a standard needle under a 100 g load at 25 °C penetrates the sample between 6.0 and 7.0 mm (60 to 70 tenths of a millimetre) in five seconds. A lower number is a harder bitumen. 60/70 is the standard paving grade across the Gulf, Levant and most of Africa because it balances stiffness at high pavement temperatures against workability during laying.
What is the difference between penetration grade and viscosity grade bitumen?
Penetration grades such as 60/70 classify bitumen by hardness at 25 °C. Viscosity grades such as VG 30 classify it by absolute viscosity at 60 °C, which relates more directly to behaviour at pavement temperature. The two systems overlap: VG 30 broadly corresponds to 60/70, and VG 40 to 40/50. Which is specified depends on the standard the project follows — ASTM and EN projects use penetration grades, projects following Indian standards use VG grades.
What is performance grade (PG) bitumen?
Performance grading, from the Superpave system, specifies bitumen by the pavement temperature range it is designed for. PG 76-10 is designed for a seven-day maximum pavement temperature of 76 °C and a minimum of −10 °C. PG grades are specified on highway and airport projects in the Gulf, where high pavement temperatures make rutting resistance the governing requirement. Polymer modification is usually needed to reach the higher grades.
How is bitumen packed and shipped?
Drummed bitumen in 150 kg or 180 kg new steel drums is the standard for export, at 80 drums per 20-foot container, and can be discharged at any container port. Jumbo bags suit destinations where drums are impractical. Bulk supply by heated tanker is available within the Gulf, and by bulk vessel or ISO tank for larger parcels. Bitumen is shipped at ambient temperature in drums and bags and reheated at destination.
Which tests appear on the certificate of analysis?
Penetration, softening point, ductility, flash point, solubility, density, loss on heating and retained penetration after the thin-film oven test are the standard parameters for penetration grades. Viscosity grades add absolute viscosity at 60 °C and kinematic viscosity at 135 °C. A certificate of analysis is issued against each lot and states the refinery of origin. No specification figures are published on this page because supply comes from several refineries and each certificate governs.
What HS code applies to bitumen?
Petroleum bitumen is classified under HS heading 2713.20. Bitumen emulsions and cutbacks fall under 2715.00 as bituminous mixtures. The applicable national sub-heading is confirmed against the importing tariff before shipment.
Where is the bitumen sourced from?
CRS PLUS sources bitumen from refineries and terminal operators in its qualified supplier base in the Gulf and Middle East. Origin is confirmed per enquiry and stated on the quotation and on the certificate of analysis. CRS PLUS supplies only from origins that comply with applicable sanctions and trade regulations, and can provide origin documentation for letter-of-credit and customs purposes.
What quantities can be supplied?
From a single 20-foot container of drums, roughly 12 to 14.4 metric tons depending on drum size, up to multi-thousand-ton bulk parcels. Quotations are per metric ton and state grade, packing, origin, incoterm and validity.
Request a bitumen quotation
A structured offer follows within 72 hours.