Why is Bitumen Important to Iraq?
Bitumen plays a pivotal role in Iraq’s infrastructure development and its thriving export market. As Iraq rebuilds its roads, airports, and urban centers, high-quality bitumen is in high demand for durable pavements and waterproofing solutions. This blog explores why bitumen for Iraq is critical, its applications, and how our comprehensive range of bitumen products meets the needs of this dynamic market.
Bitumen’s Role in Iraq’s Growth
Iraq’s infrastructure is being rapidly transformed, with government initiatives and foreign investments taking the lead. Bitumen applied in road construction in Iraq is instrumental in developing sturdy highways, city roads, and airport runways that can stand firmly against the varied weather of the country, which varies from hot summers to cold winters in regions like Kurdistan.
Urban Highways and City Roads: Penetration grades like 60/70 and VG30 Bitumen are appropriate for Iraq’s high-traffic highways, for instance, the ones located in Karbala, to ensure rutting and heavy load traffic resistance. Iraq Altaqa refinery produces paving-grade bitumen to allow these projects.
Rural Roads: Rural roads use emulsion bitumen and VG10 Bitumen to ensure economic durability for low to medium traffic in northern Iraq.
Airports and Industrial Yards: VG40 Bitumen and grades like 40/50 are best suited for stressed locations like Erbil International Airport runways supporting heavy planes and industrial trucks.
Bitumen’s Economic Impact and Export Potential
Iraq plays an important role in the global bitumen market, leveraging its large crude oil reserves for the production and export of bitumen. In the years 2021-2022, Iraqi bitumen exports skyrocketed to countries like Turkey ($70.3M), India ($63.8M), and the UAE ($39.7M). However, quality concerns, such as elevated sulfur content in certain grades (e.g., 60/70 SPOT Test Positive), have tarnished its image.
Production Center: Refineries like Karbala produce 2,000 metric tons of bitumen per day, serving local needs and exports.
Export Potential: Strategic ports in Iraq, like Umm Qasr, make possible the exportation of bitumen to Asia and the Middle East, making it a hub for suppliers.
Our Strength: We provide the full range of low sulfur content bitumen products and third-party-audited products (e.g., SGS, Bureau Veritas) to help guarantee for Iraqi and export market clients like India and the UAE.
Waterproofing and Industrial Applications
Beyond the roads, bitumen in Iraq also serves for waterproofing and industrial applications, addressing the country’s unique environmental challenges.
Waterproofing: Oxidized bitumen and VG20 Bitumen are used in roof and foundation coatings in Baghdad and Erbil to protect buildings from water in Iraq’s periodic heavy rains.
Industrial Uses: Emulsion bitumen is used to maintain roads, while crystal bitumen is exported to China to be blended with penetration grades. Bitumen is also used to protect Iraq’s oil and gas pipelines from corrosion.
Pipe Coatings: Bitumen is an essential part of Iraq’s energy sector, ensuring the longevity of pipelines.
Why It Matters: Our bitumen products are tailored to meet Iraq’s waterproofing and industrial uses, with strength and value.
Why Partner with Us for Iraq’s Bitumen Needs?
As one of the leading suppliers of bitumen to Iraq, we carry a complete range of bitumen products to meet Iraq’s different infrastructure and industrial requirements:
Complete range of Bitumen Products: Viscosity grades (VG10, VG20, VG30, VG40) to penetration grades (60/70, 80/100), oxidized bitumen for water proofing, and emulsion bitumen for road repairs, we have the solution for every requirement.
Certified Quality: Our products meet international standards (ASTM D3381, AASHTO M226, BS EN 12591) and are backed by the SGS and Bureau Veritas certification, with lower sulfur content for enhanced performance compared to the local products.
Secure Logistics: Expedited delivery to Iraq’s largest hubs like Umm Qasr, Erbil, and Suleimani, as well as negotiable terms (FOB, CFR) for local and export business.
Custom Solutions: Flexibility of package option (drums, bulk, flexitanks) and individual attention to accommodate the requirements of high-volume business, from Karbala highways to Baghdad waterproofing needs.
Conclusion of Iraq Bitumen
Bitumen is the cornerstone of Iraq’s infrastructure growth and a backbone of its export sector. From roads to waterproothing, our bitumens drive development in a country with centuries of bitumen-making heritage. Partner with us to receive high-quality bitumen tailored to Iraq’s roads, buildings, and industrial developments, supplied with reliability and know-how.
