Petroleum bitumen; obtained from bituminous minerals

HS code 271320 covers petroleum bitumen, a key material derived from bituminous minerals. Bitumen is a sticky, black, and highly viscous liquid or semi-solid form of petroleum. It is an essential component in the production of asphalt and other construction materials, playing a crucial role in the infrastructure and transportation sectors worldwide. As a major global commodity, the petroleum bitumen industry is closely tied to the broader energy and construction markets.

Petroleum bitumen is primarily obtained through the refining of crude oil. The process involves the distillation and separation of crude oil into various fractions, with the bitumen fraction being the heavy, residual material left behind. This bitumen fraction is then further processed and refined to meet specific quality and performance requirements for various applications.

The main inputs for the petroleum bitumen industry include crude oil, as well as specialized refining equipment and infrastructure. Refineries utilize distillation towers, blending units, and other specialized equipment to extract and process the bitumen from crude oil feedstocks. Additionally, the industry relies on a network of storage, transportation, and distribution systems to move the bitumen to end-users.

The primary output of the petroleum bitumen industry is the bitumen itself, which is used in a wide range of applications. Bitumen is a key ingredient in the production of asphalt for road construction and maintenance, as well as in roofing and waterproofing materials. It is also used in the manufacture of various other products, such as 271320 Petroleum bitumen, 271390 Other bituminous and asphalt materials, and 271500 Bituminous mixtures based on natural asphalt, on natural bitumen, on petroleum bitumen, on mineral tar or on mineral tar pitch.