At the same time, demand has risen sharply. The combination of a product in high demand and stringent quality criteria means that traders active in this space require effective risk management tools on each cargo. Rewards are potentially good, although even minor problems can prove costly.
SGS offers a comprehensive suite of services in the asphalt and bitumen sector including sampling, trade inspection, analysis and cargo treatment.
The most significant issues facing any actor in the supply chain in this sector are:
There are many national and international specifications and tests stipulated by various authorities, contracts and building regulations around the world. At SGS we try to offer as many as we can, while accepting that we cannot offer all things to all of our stakeholders everywhere, given the limited volumes per location. We offer:
All SGS testing laboratories participate in an international proficiency test scheme for bitumen. These round robin tests act as a performance indicator and help to maintain a consistently high level of quality and assurance from our labs.
SGS trade inspections of oil, gas and chemical cargoes are carried out on the basis of accepted petroleum and petrochemical standards such as ASTM, GOST, API, MPMS, UOP, IP or EN testing methods and specifications as set out by ISO, CEN or national and regional standards-setting organizations.
SGS belongs to several key industry organizations and working groups, such as those within ASTM, ISO, CEN, EI (The Energy Institute, the former Institute of Petroleum) and IFIA. Where required by contract specifications, we can use both customized analytical methods and those supplied by our clients. If necessary, we can also help customers choose the most appropriate standards to use and/or cite in order to support risk management within transactions. Our technical support team is always available to give advice on the standards, working practices and technologies being used.
Learn more about asphalt and bitumen testing from SGS.