Bitumen might not be the flashiest of materials, but it’s absolutely vital to the infrastructure that powers our modern world. Roads, highways, and even airport runways rely on high-quality bitumen to ensure durability and performance under extreme conditions. And when a company successfully exports a massive shipment of this black gold, it’s more than just a transaction—it’s a key development in the construction and logistics sectors.
In July 2025, Aljabal Holding marked a significant milestone by exporting 50 containers (20ft each) of Bitumen 60/70 to Ethiopia, a country that’s rapidly accelerating its infrastructure expansion. This move highlights both the growing demand for bitumen in East Africa and Aljabal Holding’s strategic role in the region’s development landscape.
The scale of this shipment is a strong indicator of rising infrastructure investment and economic progress in Ethiopia. With urbanization pushing the boundaries of its cities and the government prioritizing major road projects, the demand for quality bitumen is on the rise. This article dives deep into who Aljabal Holding is, the specifics of Bitumen 60/70, why Ethiopia is a growing market, and what this July 2025 export means for the future.
Aljabal Holding isn’t just a name in the global trade directory—it’s a powerhouse when it comes to petroleum product exports, especially bitumen, a product they have mastered both in terms of sourcing and delivery. With headquarters rooted in the Middle East and an international footprint, the company has built its reputation on reliability, quality, and strategic logistics management.
The company deals extensively in various grades of bitumen, fuel oils, and petrochemicals. Their clientele spans several continents, and their reputation is built on meeting tight deadlines, offering consistent product quality, and supporting large-scale infrastructure projects.
What sets Aljabal Holding apart is their logistical expertise and strong supplier relationships, which enable them to deliver large shipments such as the 50x20ft containers dispatched to Ethiopia this past July. Their supply chain is robust, often integrating partnerships with refineries, transport companies, and governmental authorities to ensure seamless delivery even to landlocked nations like Ethiopia.
Additionally, Aljabal Holding has been actively focusing on the East African market, recognizing the untapped potential in countries like Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. Their goal? To be the go-to partner for all petroleum and bitumen-related needs in the region.
Bitumen 60/70 is the most commonly used grade of bitumen for road construction across many regions, including Africa and Asia. It’s a penetration-grade bitumen, which means its hardness is measured by how far a standard needle penetrates it under specific conditions (in this case, between 60 and 70 tenths of a millimeter at 25°C).
But what makes Bitumen 60/70 so essential?
Here are a few common applications:
Aljabal Holding’s decision to ship this grade of bitumen to Ethiopia wasn’t random—it aligns perfectly with Ethiopia’s current infrastructure requirements, especially with the number of highways and inter-city roads currently under development.
Moreover, the 60/70 grade is also compliant with international quality standards, ensuring safety, longevity, and cost-efficiency for large government and private sector projects.
Ethiopia is undergoing a massive transformation. From the bustling streets of Addis Ababa to emerging economic hubs across the country, there’s an unmistakable push for better roads, logistics networks, and transportation systems. Behind much of this development is bitumen—the key ingredient that makes roads durable and reliable.
In recent years, Ethiopia has launched several road construction projects, including:
All these projects have created a spike in the demand for high-grade bitumen like 60/70.
According to Ethiopian government data and development reports, the country needs over 150,000 tons of bitumen annually to meet its construction goals. Unfortunately, local production is minimal, and thus, the country relies heavily on imports from key global suppliers—enter Aljabal Holding.
Besides roads, bitumen is also used in Ethiopia for:
This high and diverse demand ensures that suppliers who can consistently deliver quality product—on time—are in a prime position to lead the market.
July 2025 was a big month for Aljabal Holding. The company successfully executed the export of 50 containers of bitumen 60/70, each measuring 20 feet, to Ethiopia. This isn’t just a matter of shipping a large number of drums or barrels—it’s a well-coordinated logistical effort involving:
Each container was packed with carefully processed, high-quality bitumen, conforming to international specifications and ensuring maximum performance upon arrival.
The delivery was part of a government-backed procurement program, aimed at supporting Ethiopia’s massive highway expansion plans. But beyond the numbers, the shipment reflects:
This milestone also proves that Aljabal Holding has the capability to manage not just the supply chain, but also the regulatory and logistical complexities of cross-border trade with landlocked nations.
Transporting bitumen is no small task. It involves a complex process that ensures the material retains its quality and arrives in perfect condition—especially when you’re moving 50 full containers over land and sea, like Aljabal Holding did in July 2025.
Bitumen is often transported in one of the following forms:
For the Ethiopia shipment, Aljabal used 20ft containers, each optimized for secure bitumen transport. These containers were fitted with high-temperature liners and thermal insulation to protect the bitumen during transit.
Bitumen must remain within a specific temperature range to stay workable. If it cools too much during transport, it hardens and becomes unusable. That’s why the logistics team ensures:
Given that Ethiopia is a landlocked country, bitumen typically lands at Djibouti Port and is then trucked into Ethiopian territory. Aljabal’s shipment likely followed this route:
This seamless end-to-end logistics chain is what makes Aljabal Holding stand out in the bitumen export industry.
Moving goods into East Africa, especially in bulk, isn’t without its hurdles. Exporting bitumen to Ethiopia involves navigating a range of challenges—from infrastructure constraints to political and logistical risks.
Ethiopia has no coastline, which makes dependence on neighboring countries’ ports (like Djibouti and Berbera) inevitable. This introduces risks such as:
Yet, Aljabal Holding has optimized its supply chain to bypass these challenges efficiently.
Bitumen’s chemical properties make it sensitive to temperature changes. When transporting large quantities across hot and cold zones, it’s crucial to:
Aljabal addresses these risks with thermal tracking systems and real-time logistics monitoring.
Cross-border shipping to Ethiopia involves multiple regulatory bodies, including:
Aljabal Holding’s in-house regulatory compliance team ensures all documentation is pre-cleared, and shipments move without unnecessary hold-ups.
Ethiopia is just one of many countries benefiting from the company’s focus on supplying critical construction materials.
Aljabal has set its sights on being a key player in Africa’s infrastructure boom. As the continent undergoes rapid urbanization, there’s a massive need for:
Bitumen is central to all these initiatives, and Aljabal’s consistent supply helps keep projects on schedule.
Aljabal works closely with government agencies and local contractors in Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, and more. These partnerships ensure:
By being more than just a supplier, Aljabal positions itself as a trusted partner in development.
Sustainability is no longer optional—especially in construction. Aljabal Holding recognizes the environmental impact of bitumen production and transport and has made key efforts to minimize its carbon footprint.
Where possible, the company uses:
Bitumen is often shipped in recyclable drums or eco-friendly bulk bags, reducing plastic waste and supporting Ethiopia’s push for greener construction practices.
All shipments are:
This ensures Aljabal Holding stays ahead in both performance and responsibility.
The arrival of 50x20ft containers of bitumen isn’t just a trade event—it has real economic implications for Ethiopia.
With the new bitumen stock, several ongoing and upcoming road projects can continue without delays, including:
This translates to better logistics, reduced travel time, and economic integration for local communities.
Imports like this spark a ripple effect:
Bitumen availability makes it possible for Ethiopian industries to thrive—and that’s the kind of long-term impact Aljabal Holding is proud to be a part of.
Ethiopia isn’t just a recipient of construction materials—it’s quickly becoming a strategic trade hub in East Africa. With a population of over 120 million and a government eager to invest in infrastructure, Ethiopia serves as a gateway to landlocked countries and the Horn of Africa.
Situated next to Djibouti and near the Red Sea, Ethiopia enjoys:
By investing in road networks, Ethiopia is laying the groundwork for interconnected trade routes, making it a preferred destination for infrastructure investments.
The Ethiopian government has prioritized road construction in its national development plan. Incentives include:
Aljabal Holding’s involvement is a clear sign that the country is open for business and serious about building up its infrastructure from the ground up.
Exporting 50 containers of Bitumen 60/70 is not just a delivery—it’s a statement of market dominance. For Aljabal Holding, the July 2025 shipment to Ethiopia strengthens its reputation and opens doors for future projects across the continent.
In the bitumen industry, timeliness and quality are everything. Aljabal’s on-time delivery to Ethiopia:
This milestone becomes a case study that the company can use to win new contracts in Kenya, Uganda, and beyond.
While many companies can supply bitumen, few can manage the complexities of delivery to landlocked countries at this scale. Aljabal Holding has:
This gives them a decisive edge over competitors.
Aljabal’s bitumen isn’t just delivered—it’s appreciated. Feedback from Ethiopian project managers and contractors reflects high satisfaction with both product quality and service reliability.
Clients reported:
Such outcomes build long-term loyalty and encourage repeat contracts.
Aljabal Holding also offers:
This kind of holistic service goes beyond typical supplier-client relationships—it makes Aljabal a strategic partner in national infrastructure.
Following the success of the July 2025 shipment, Aljabal Holding is now scaling up operations across Africa. Ethiopia is just the beginning.
Countries on Aljabal’s radar include:
The company is already in negotiations with multiple ministries of transport and infrastructure, ensuring more bitumen containers are on the way across the region.
To meet increasing demand, Aljabal plans to:
These moves will make it easier to respond to last-minute demands and support infrastructure development at every stage.
The July 2025 export of 50x20ft containers of Bitumen 60/70 to Ethiopia by Aljabal Holding wasn’t just a transaction—it was a powerful demonstration of strategic logistics, market understanding, and international collaboration. Ethiopia’s growing infrastructure needs met Aljabal’s world-class delivery capabilities, proving that when demand and supply align effectively, nations can build faster, better, and stronger.
From ensuring temperature-controlled transport to delivering on tight deadlines in landlocked territories, Aljabal Holding has shown that it can go beyond product delivery—it delivers value, reliability, and growth. With Ethiopia as a case study, the company is now well-poised to lead East Africa’s infrastructure boom through quality bitumen supply and long-term partnerships.
Bitumen 60/70 offers optimal hardness and flexibility, making it perfect for Ethiopia’s climate and traffic conditions. It ensures long-lasting, crack-resistant roads.
They use multimodal logistics—shipping to Djibouti Port, then trucking into Ethiopia with temperature-controlled containers and expert customs handling.
Their strength lies in logistics mastery, consistent quality, and exceptional after-sales support, making them a trusted partner rather than just a supplier.
Yes. They plan to serve Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, and more through new storage hubs, partnerships, and increased production capacity.
They can reach out via the company’s website, regional representatives, or during local infrastructure exhibitions where Aljabal regularly participates.
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