ExxonMobil will cease bitumen activities at its terminal in Bergen, Norway, at the end of November, ending its direct local supply presence in the Nordic market.
In a statement issued to its bitumen customers and seen by Argus, the firm said that its Esso Norge unit plans to "discontinue its asphalt sales activities" at its Bergen terminal.
The halt will take effect from 30 November, and will result, regional market participants said, in ExxonMobil exiting the asphalt and bitumen market in Norway fully from that date.
Esso Norge's Bergen terminal only takes in around 10,000t-15,000 t/yr of bitumen, according to vessel tracking data.
The latest delivery was on board the 6,165dwt An Hai Wan bitumen tanker, sailing from ExxonMobil's 236,000 b/d Port Jerome refinery in northern France, to Bergen for arrival on 1 August.
Bitumen demand in recent years has failed to make sizable growth in Norway as the country explores recycling raw materials and bio-materials for use in asphalt mixtures applied to local road and construction projects in the country, cutting bitumen requirements.
ExxonMobil Petroleum and Chemical told Argus that, although asphalt sales activities will be discontinued at the site, the Bergen terminal will continue operating as a fuels terminal.
The change in operations follows ExxonMobil's sale of its controlling stake in its French subsidiary Esso, which operates the Port Jerome refinery, to Canadian energy firm North Atlantic at the end of May.
