Bitumen 60/70 – Penetration Grade Paving Bitumen Supply

Product Name: Bitumen, Penetration Grade 60/70
Also Known As: Paving bitumen, asphalt cement (AC), straight-run bitumen, Pen 60/70
CAS Number: 8052-42-4
HS Code: 2713.20 (Petroleum bitumen)
Transport Class: Not regulated when packed and cold; bulk cargo carried hot is shipped as UN 3257 (Elevated Temperature Liquid, n.o.s., Class 9)
Traded Standard: ASTM D946 Pen 60–70 / AASHTO M20; EN 12591 50/70 where specified. Indian buyers using IS 73 normally match it against VG-30.

Bitumen 60/70 is the most widely traded paving grade in the world. It is the standard binder for hot-mix asphalt on highways, city roads, airport aprons and industrial yards in warm and tropical climates. India, the Gulf, East Africa and South-East Asia all buy large volumes every year, both as heated bulk cargo and as packed bitumen in drums and bags for inland projects.

Ametheus supplies Bitumen 60/70 on FOB and CFR/CIF terms to road contractors, hot-mix plants, emulsion and PMB producers, and trade partners. We supply packed bitumen by container and bulk parcels from established refining regions. We work on a contract basis and do not sell retail.

Technical Specifications

Typical Pen 60/70 limits. Final specification and Certificate of Analysis are confirmed on each contract.

Parameter Unit Typical Limit (Pen 60/70) Test Method
Penetration @ 25°C, 100 g, 5 s 0.1 mm 60 – 70 ASTM D5
Softening Point (Ring & Ball) °C 49 – 56 ASTM D36
Ductility @ 25°C cm 100 min ASTM D113
Specific Gravity @ 25°C — 1.01 – 1.06 ASTM D70
Flash Point (Cleveland Open Cup) °C 232 min ASTM D92
Solubility in Trichloroethylene % wt 99.0 min ASTM D2042
Loss on Heating (163°C, 5 h) % wt 0.2 max ASTM D6
Drop in Penetration after Heating % 20 max ASTM D5 / D6
Spot Test — Negative AASHTO T102

Other grades on enquiry: Pen 40/50 (hotter climates and heavy traffic), Pen 80/100 (cooler regions and surface dressing), VG-30 / VG-40 to IS 73, and oxidised bitumen (e.g. 85/25, 115/15) for roofing and waterproofing. Ask for the grade your tender names.

Key Applications

Road Construction (dominant use)

  • Hot-mix asphalt for national highways, expressways and city roads
  • Dense bituminous macadam (DBM), bituminous concrete (BC) and wearing courses
  • Airport runways, aprons, port yards and industrial pavements

Derived Binders

  • Base bitumen for bitumen emulsions (tack coat, prime coat, slurry seal)
  • Feed for polymer-modified bitumen (PMB) and crumb-rubber modified bitumen (CRMB)
  • Cutback bitumen for patching and surface dressing

Industrial

  • Waterproofing membranes, damp-proofing and pipe coating (often with blown grades)

Packaging & Logistics

  • New steel drums, about 150 – 180 kg net (around 110 drums / 20 MT per 20′ container)
  • Jumbo bags, 1,000 – 1,200 kg, with or without steel cage and pallet
  • Bitubags / polycubes, about 300 kg, for easy re-melting at the plant
  • Flexitanks with heating pads, about 20 MT per 20′ container, where the route allows
  • Bulk in heated bitumen tankers (parcels typically from 1,000 MT) into terminals with heated storage

Load-port inspection is done by an independent surveyor (SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas or similar), covering quality, quantity and packing condition. For packed cargo the surveyor also checks container stuffing and seals.

Storage & Handling

  • Bulk bitumen is stored and pumped hot, typically 140 – 170°C. Do not overheat; it hardens the binder and creates a fire risk.
  • Melt drums and bags with controlled heating. Keep water away from hot bitumen, as it can cause violent foaming and boil-over.
  • Hot bitumen causes severe burns. Use heat-resistant gloves, face shields and full-cover clothing.
  • Packed bitumen is stored under cover and out of direct sun to limit deformation of drums and bags.
  • Full SDS is available on request.

Commercial Terms

  • Incoterms 2020: FOB load port, CFR / CIF discharge port (e.g. Kandla, Mundra, JNPT, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam), as agreed
  • Pricing: Fixed price per MT, or formula-linked to recognised benchmarks (e.g. Argus / Platts bitumen assessments), as agreed
  • Payment: LC or CAD against documents on first contracts
  • Quality: Load-port and/or discharge inspection as agreed. COA, SDS and Certificate of Origin are provided.
  • Lots: Packed cargo from container lots (typically 5 × 20′ minimum); bulk from about 1,000 MT, depending on the discharge terminal

Why Ametheus

Inquiry

For current availability, grade, quantity and delivery window, contact the commodities desk with:

  • Product & grade (Pen 60/70, VG-30, or your tender specification)
  • Quantity (per shipment and total contract)
  • Discharge port / delivery location
  • Delivery window
  • Preferred Incoterm and packaging (drums, jumbo bags, bitubags, bulk)

Commodities desk
Ametheus Holdings Pvt Ltd
[email protected] | [email protected]
New buyers: please complete the Preliminary KYC form or contact us.

We respond on live enquiries. Bulk quantities only; we do not sell samples or retail lots.

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