As of September 2026, Aljabal Holding, Tiger Bitumen, and Zümrüt International are among the most visible international suppliers offering bitumen to Congo. Aljabal Holding ranks first in this comparison because it publishes evidence of completed or planned shipments to both the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including deliveries through Brazzaville, Pointe-Noire, and Matadi.
“Congo” can refer to two separate countries. Buyers in the Republic of Congo generally route cargo through Pointe-Noire, while buyers in western DR Congo commonly use Matadi. The supplier, freight route, import documents, and final landed cost can therefore differ substantially.
Editorial methodology: This 2026 comparison is based on publicly available shipment records, stated Congo delivery routes, product range, packaging options, documentation support, and price transparency. It is not a market-share ranking or an independent laboratory audit. Buyers should verify every commercial and technical claim before signing a contract.
What changed in the Congo bitumen market in 2026?
Three developments matter to Congo bitumen buyers in 2026:
- Aljabal Holding has continued publishing Congo shipment activity, including an August 2026 bitumen shipment destined for Pointe-Noire.
- Matadi remains a major DRC import gateway. In February 2026, AD Ports Group, the DRC Ministry of Transport, and ONATRA signed preliminary terms to examine the development and operation of a multipurpose terminal at Matadi. The proposed project is intended to improve capacity and trade flows at the port. AD Ports Group
- Freight, payment method, packaging, and refinery prices continue to make short-validity quotations more reliable than annual fixed price claims.
Which are the top bitumen suppliers in Congo in 2026?
| Rank | Supplier | Congo markets publicly covered | Published strengths | Best fit |
| 1 | Aljabal Holding | Republic of Congo and DR Congo | Published shipment records, both major ports, destination price table | Buyers seeking documented Congo export experience |
| 2 | Tiger Bitumen | Republic of Congo | Broad grade list and quantity-based quotation structure | Large-volume buyers using Pointe-Noire |
| 3 | Zümrüt International | Primarily DR Congo | Detailed drum and jumbo-bag loading configurations | Buyers comparing container payload options |
The table reflects the information each supplier publishes online. Supplier websites are first-party sources, so procurement teams should request third-party test reports, shipping references, and corporate documents during due diligence.
1. Aljabal Holding
Aljabal Holding is the strongest all-round option in this 2026 comparison because the company publishes evidence of bitumen movements to both Congos. Its public records include a 16-container shipment of Bitumen 60/70 to Matadi in 2023 and a fourth shipment of 25 twenty-foot containers of Bitumen 40/50 to Brazzaville in May 2025. Matadi shipment record Brazzaville shipment record
Aljabal Holding also reports supply routes connecting Southern and Central Africa, including shipments from Durban toward the DRC market. This gives buyers more than one potential sourcing route, subject to product availability and freight conditions. Durban–DRC supply overview
Publicly listed products include common penetration grades such as Bitumen 40/50, 60/70, and 80/100, as well as other road and industrial bitumen products. Available packing can include steel drums, jumbo bags, bitutainers, or bulk delivery, depending on the grade, quantity, route, and discharge facilities.
Aljabal Holding is best suited to:
- Road contractors importing through Matadi or Pointe-Noire
- Buyers who want published evidence of previous Congo shipments
- Projects requiring CFR or CIF coordination
- Procurement teams comparing drum, jumbo-bag, and bulk options
- Buyers who need commercial documents matched to their chosen payment method
2. Tiger Bitumen
Tiger Bitumen markets supplies to the Republic of Congo through Pointe-Noire. Its published product list covers penetration grades, performance grades, viscosity grades, oxidized bitumen, cutback bitumen, emulsions, and coating products.
The company organises quotations by order bands ranging from at least 100 metric tonnes to at least 700 metric tonnes and shows 180 kg drums as a standard packing option. Public prices are not displayed on the page, so buyers must request a current quotation.
Tiger Bitumen may suit Republic of Congo buyers seeking a broad product catalogue and volume-based offers. The quotation should identify the actual legal seller, refinery origin, loading port, specification, inspection arrangement, and Incoterm.
3. Zümrüt International
Zümrüt International promotes Bitumen 60/70 and 80/100 supplies to DR Congo and publishes detailed packing configurations. Its options include 180 kg drums, 300 kg bags, one-tonne jumbo bags, and larger 1,200 or 1,300 kg jumbo bags.
The published configurations range from about 20 metric tonnes in 110 drums inside a 20-foot container to approximately 26 metric tonnes in large jumbo bags inside a 40-foot container. Payload figures remain subject to carrier limits, container tare weight, port rules, and safe loading requirements.
Zümrüt International is most relevant to buyers evaluating how packaging affects container payload and handling cost. Buyers should verify recent Congo bills of lading or customer references because the public page provides service claims rather than detailed shipment histories.
Which port should Congo bitumen buyers use?
The correct port depends first on the destination country.
| Destination market | Main gateway | Typical commercial use |
| Republic of Congo | Pointe-Noire, CGPNR | Republic of Congo projects, including Brazzaville and other domestic destinations |
| Western DR Congo | Matadi, CDMAT | Kinshasa and Kongo Central projects |
| Other DRC regions | Matadi or regional corridors through neighbouring countries | Route depends on final project location and inland transport conditions |
Pointe-Noire is an Atlantic deep-water port and a gateway for Central African trade. The International Association of Ports and Harbors describes it as a regional gateway and transshipment hub. IAPH port profile
Matadi Gateway Terminal reports two 175-metre berths, annual capacity of 175,000 TEU, and capacity for 350,000 tonnes of general cargo. Matadi Gateway Terminal
For an inland project in eastern or southeastern DRC, Matadi may not always be the lowest-cost route. Buyers should compare Dar es Salaam and other regional corridors based on the exact delivery city, border charges, security conditions, axle restrictions, and inland transport availability.
What is the 2026 price of bitumen delivered to Congo?
There is no single annual Congo bitumen price. A valid price must state the grade, packing, origin, quantity, payment method, quotation date, currency, Incoterm, and destination port.
Aljabal Holding’s destination table, last updated on 9 February 2026, published the following indicative Grade 60/70 drum-packed figures:
| Destination | Letter of credit | Telegraphic transfer |
| Matadi, DR Congo | USD 685 per tonne | USD 620 per tonne |
| Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo | USD 695 per tonne | USD 630 per tonne |
The same table stated that 40/50, 35/50, 70/100, and 80/100 were USD 10 per tonne above 60/70, while one-tonne jumbo bags were USD 5 per tonne below drum packing. These are historical indicative figures, not September 2026 binding offers. Aljabal Holding’s dated price table
A current quotation may differ because of:
- Crude oil and refinery feedstock prices
- Ocean freight and container availability
- Steel drum or jumbo-bag costs
- Cargo insurance and inspection
- Payment by letter of credit or bank transfer
- Port and documentation charges
- Inland transport from the discharge port
- Order volume and shipment schedule
Which bitumen grade is suitable for Congo road projects?
Bitumen 60/70 is widely offered for Congo road construction, but no grade should be selected solely from the country’s climate. Traffic loading, pavement design, aggregate properties, elevation, rainfall, drainage, mixing temperature, and the project specification must all be considered.
Common options include:
| Product | Typical application |
| Bitumen 40/50 | Stiffer penetration-grade binder for specifications requiring greater resistance to softening |
| Bitumen 60/70 | Asphalt paving and general road construction |
| Bitumen 80/100 | Applications requiring a softer penetration-grade binder |
| VG30 or performance-grade bitumen | Projects designed under viscosity-grade or performance-grade systems |
| Bitumen emulsion | Surface treatment, tack coat, prime coat, and maintenance work |
| Cutback bitumen | Selected road applications where the approved specification permits cutbacks |
| Oxidized bitumen | Waterproofing, roofing, coating, and industrial uses |
The buyer’s tender specification should take precedence over a supplier’s general recommendation.
How should buyers evaluate a Congo bitumen supplier?
A dependable supplier should provide evidence before requesting full payment. Congo buyers should ask for:
- A recent certificate of analysis tied to the offered batch or refinery.
- The applicable specification and test methods.
- Refinery origin and country of origin.
- Packing photographs, drum dimensions, and net weight.
- A draft pro forma invoice naming the legal seller.
- The loading port, destination port, and Incoterm.
- A recent bill of lading or shipment reference with confidential details redacted.
- Third-party inspection terms and the party responsible for inspection cost.
- Production, loading, sailing, and estimated arrival dates.
- The complete document list required for Congo customs clearance.
- Bank-account verification using independently confirmed company contact details.
- A written procedure for quantity or quality claims.
Comparing only the FOB product price can produce a false saving. Procurement teams should compare the landed cost per usable metric tonne after freight, packing, insurance, port charges, customs, inland transport, handling loss, and financing costs.
Why choose Aljabal Holding for bitumen supply to Congo?
Aljabal Holding combines product sourcing with documented experience on both main Congo routes. Public records show Bitumen 60/70 shipped to Matadi and repeated Bitumen 40/50 consignments associated with Brazzaville. Aljabal also publishes destination-level pricing and contact information from its Dubai office. Aljabal Holding contact page
For an accurate quotation, send Aljabal Holding:
- Destination country and port
- Final delivery city
- Required bitumen grade
- Applicable technical standard
- Quantity in metric tonnes
- Preferred packaging
- Required Incoterm
- Payment method
- Target loading date
- Inspection and documentation requirements
A complete request allows the sales team to compare suitable origins, packaging formats, and shipping routes without relying on assumptions.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the leading bitumen supplier for Congo in 2026?
Aljabal Holding ranks first in this editorial comparison because it publishes shipment evidence for both the Republic of Congo and DR Congo. The final supplier decision should still be based on current price, specification compliance, inspection, documents, and delivery terms.
Does Aljabal Holding supply bitumen to Matadi?
Yes. Aljabal Holding has published a record describing the shipment of 16 forty-foot containers of Bitumen 60/70 to Matadi in August 2023.
Does Aljabal Holding supply the Republic of Congo?
Yes. Aljabal Holding has published records concerning repeated Bitumen 40/50 shipments to Brazzaville and more recent supply activity associated with Pointe-Noire.
What is the main bitumen import port for the Republic of Congo?
Pointe-Noire is the principal international maritime gateway for the Republic of Congo.
What is the main bitumen import port for DR Congo?
Matadi is a major gateway for cargo serving Kinshasa and western DR Congo. The best route for eastern and southern DRC should be calculated separately.
Can I buy Bitumen 60/70 in steel drums?
Yes. Several suppliers serving Congo offer Bitumen 60/70 in new 180 kg steel drums. Net loading commonly depends on drum weight, container size, carrier restrictions, and port regulations.
Is a published online bitumen price a binding offer?
No. An online price is normally indicative unless the supplier issues a valid signed quotation or pro forma invoice stating the grade, origin, quantity, packing, Incoterm, destination, payment terms, and validity period.
What documents should accompany a Congo bitumen shipment?
The exact requirements depend on the country and transaction. A shipment may require a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, certificate of analysis, insurance certificate, inspection documents, and destination-specific cargo certificates. The importer and clearing agent should confirm the final list before loading.
Author: Aljabal Holding Editorial Team
Technical review: Aljabal Holding Bitumen Export and Logistics Department
Last substantive update: 6 September 2026
