India’s bitumen import reliance deepens as April 2026 shipments fall to 2.36 lakh tonnes

India uses almost 90 lakh tonnes of bitumen a year, but domestic refineries produce only around 54 lakh tonnes, leaving the country reliant on imports from West Asia. More than 99% of those imports come from Iraq, UAE, Iran, Oman and Bahrain. Imports fell to 2.36 lakh tonnes in April 2026, down 21% from April 2025, as the West Asia conflict disrupted flows. The supply squeeze is lifting refineries’ effective demand for heavier crude, which yields more bitumen in processing.