Dubai bitumen which we call it positive spot test bitumen attained its market share about 0.5% to 2 or 3% of the world’s bitumen export market since 2015.
Due to this, European investment companies, such as the Austrian Porner company or the Phoenix Denmark, make large investments in northern or southern Dubai where there are oil wells and bitumen can be produced.
In 2020, Dubai exported more than 180,000 tons of bitumen penetration grade 60/70 while 80/100 and VG 30 held less than 20,000 tons of the export.
90% of the bitumen produced and exported in Dubai has a positive Spot test that shows it has impurities. Based on this impurity, it burns in high temperatures.
Dubai bitumen cargoes arrive at Jebel Ali port from various origins, such as Um Qasr and Basra.
Only three refineries, located in Erbil, Sulaymaniyah and Basra, have the required technology to produce various grades of Dubai bitumen, although many refineries claim to have the best quality.
Indeed, most of these refineries use Vacuum Residue (VR) to produce the bitumen.
Vacuum Residue is the remnant of an oil distillation tower, solid material with a Flash Point above 300 degrees.
VR cannot be a suitable alternative for bitumen, and it has caused huge losses to importers.
These refineries can only produce bitumen grade 60/70 because of the penetration of Vacuum Residue that is between 45-70.
It is not only about the grade, but also the SPOT Test. They are compelled to produce positive Spot Test bitumen with the ductility of above 100 cm, due to the high elastic VR.
You can visit the page bitumen price today, to get the exact price of positive spot test bitumen. Check out the spots test and ductility test pages as well for a better understanding of their methods.
