Argus Media
Argus Media
Argus Media
Tightened Supply Chains: Strait of Hormuz & Bitumen Markets
27 minutes Posted May 7, 2026 at 3:38 pm.
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Show notes
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
Please note, this podcast was recorded recently during ongoing market volatility. For the latest insights and data, explore Argus bitumen and asphalt coverage