Ukraine sharply increased bitumen imports in April as the country entered an active road repair season. Monthly deliveries reached 25.7 thousand tonnes, more than four times the level recorded a year earlier and significantly above March volumes.
According to market data, total deliveries in the first four months of the year rose from 13.5 thousand tonnes to 50.3 thousand tonnes. The jump reflects stronger demand for asphalt materials after winter damage and the start of planned pavement works.
Why demand increased
The past winter brought severe frosts, temperature swings and heavy precipitation. These conditions damaged road surfaces more than usual and increased the need for both capital repairs and patching.
The government earlier allocated funds for road repair works in two stages, with deadlines before June and before October. That schedule created a seasonal pull for bitumen, logistics capacity and road construction crews.
Main supply routes
In April, bitumen came mainly from Lithuania, Romania and Poland. Lithuanian and Romanian directions supplied the largest monthly volumes, while Polish producers covered the remaining share.
For the infrastructure market, the trend is important because bitumen is a basic input for asphalt production. Stable imports help contractors plan repairs, but the sector remains sensitive to transport costs, border timing and the pace of public works.
