Tightened Supply Chains: Strait of Hormuz & Bitumen Markets

Strait of Hormuz disruption is putting bitumen markets under pressure across Europe and Africa, tightening supply, driving up prices and forcing buyers to rethink purchasing and project plans.

Host Irina Vinogradova (Senior Manager, Analytics & Consulting) is joined by Argus experts Keyvan Hedvat (Europe & Africa Editor, Argus Bitumen Reports) and Oliver Thompson (Analyst, Europe Consulting Team) to break down where the pressure is building most, how the market is responding and what it means for the months ahead.

Key themes:

• Price shock: $382/t in February, above $607/t in March, with further upside risk
• Europe refinery strain, lower bitumen yields and tighter regional supply
• South Africa’s growing reliance on imports and increased vulnerability to disrupted Middle East flows
• 2026 outlook shaped by tighter balances, with Africa’s bitumen imports forecast at 2.7mn t