Story · allafrica + websearch · 5 events
Africa: Middle East War Drives Up Bitumen Costs for African Road ...
Africa: Middle East War Drives Up Bitumen Costs for African Road ...
War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own. Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.
InMadagascar, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.
"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.
Alternatives are limited.
Keep up with the latest headlines onWhatsApp|LinkedIn
"There is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury," said Dany Michael Ranivo, deputy general administrator of Inframad, a company that oversees building sites in the country.
Geographyhas traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies. Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali inDubaithrough the Strait of Hormuz. European s…
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders - inkl
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders - inkl
War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own. Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.
InMadagascar, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.
"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.
Alternatives are limited.
"There is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury," said Dany Michael Ranivo, deputy general administrator of Inframad, a company that oversees building sites in the country.
Geographyhas traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies. Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali inDubaithrough the Strait of Hormuz. European supplies played only a supporting role.
That situat…
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders - RFI
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders - RFI
AFRICA - DEVELOPMENT
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders
War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own. Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.
Issued on:
21/06/2026 - 11:15
2 min
Reading time
Road builders across Africa are facing higher costs after the price of bitumen, a key ingredient in asphalt, rose following disruption to supplies from the Gulf. © Getty Images / Photo and Co
By:
RFI
Advertising
Read more
In
Madagascar
, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.
"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.
Alternatives are limited.
"There is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury," said Dan…
Africa: Middle East War Drives Up Bitumen Costs for African Road Builders
Africa: Middle East War Drives Up Bitumen Costs for African Road Builders
[RFI] War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own. Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders
By RFI
Africa
SUN, 21 JUN 2026
Road builders across Africa are facing higher costs after the price of bitumen, a key ingredient in asphalt, rose following disruption to supplies from the Gulf. - © Getty Images / Photo and Co
In
Madagascar
, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.
"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.
Alternatives are limited.
"There is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury," said Dany Michael Ranivo, deputy general administrator of Inframad, a company that oversees building sites in the country.
Geography
has traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies. Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali in
Dubai
through the Strait of Hormuz. European supplies played only a supporting role.
That situation has now reversed. European bitumen has become the main source, but shipments take an extra 45…
Corroboration
No verdict, no pronouncement. The model extracts atomic factual claims with verbatim quotes; every quote is validated against the source text and corroboration is computed by counting how many editorially-opposed blocs assert each fact. 5 fabricated/unverifiable quotes were rejected by the cite-or-die gate.
The spine · 10 facts corroborated across ≥2 opposed blocs
2×cross-perspective · 2War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces.
africaother
allafrica“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
allafrica.com“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
rfi.fr“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
inkl.com“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
2×cross-perspective · 2The effects of higher bitumen prices and longer delivery times are being felt across Africa.
africaother
allafrica“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
allafrica.com“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
rfi.fr“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
inkl.com“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
2×cross-perspective · 2Few countries in Africa produce their own bitumen.
africaother
allafrica“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
allafrica.com“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces - and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
rfi.fr“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
inkl.com“War in the Middle East is pushing up the price of bitumen, the material used to make asphalt and road surfaces – and the effects are being felt across Africa, where few countries produce their own.”
2×cross-perspective · 2Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.
africaother
allafrica“Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.”
allafrica.com“Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.”
rfi.fr“Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.”
inkl.com“Higher costs and longer delivery times are forcing firms from Madagascar to Guinea to Cameroon to renegotiate contracts, absorb rising expenses and rethink how they manage supplies.”
1×cross-perspective · 2In Madagascar, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.
other
allafrica.com“InMadagascar, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.”
rfi.fr“In
Madagascar
, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.”
inkl.com“InMadagascar, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.”
modernghana.com“In
Madagascar
, as in many countries on the continent, bitumen is not produced locally.”
1×cross-perspective · 2We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar.
other
allafrica.com“"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.”
rfi.fr“"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.”
inkl.com“"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.”
modernghana.com“"We import the raw material that lets us make asphalt. Without bitumen, we cannot make tar," Richard Ferrazi, director of road-building company Colas, told RFI.”
1×broadly confirmedThere is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury.
other
allafrica.com“"There is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury," said Dany Michael Ranivo, deputy general administrator of Inframad, a company that oversees building sites in the country.”
inkl.com“"There is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury," said Dany Michael Ranivo, deputy general administrator of Inframad, a company that oversees building sites in the country.”
modernghana.com“"There is an alternative, reinforced concrete, but we cannot afford it. For us, that is a luxury," said Dany Michael Ranivo, deputy general administrator of Inframad, a company that oversees building sites in the country.”
1×broadly confirmedGeography has traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies.
other
allafrica.com“Geographyhas traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies. Most of the country's bitumen came fro”
inkl.com“Geographyhas traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies. Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali inDubaithrough the Strait of Hormuz. European supplies played only a sup”
modernghana.com“Geography
has traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies. Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali in
Dubai
through the Strait of Hormuz. European supplies played only a supporting role.”
1×broadly confirmedMost of Madagascar's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali in Dubai through the Strait of Hormuz.
other
inkl.com“Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali inDubaithrough the Strait of Hormuz. European supplies played only a sup”
modernghana.com“Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali in
Dubai
through the Strait of Hormuz. European supplies played only a supporting role.”
1×broadly confirmedEuropean supplies played only a supporting role in Madagascar's bitumen imports.
other
inkl.com“European supplies played only a sup”
modernghana.com“European supplies played only a supporting role.”
Single-source · 1 — reported by one bloc only (uncorroborated)
European bitumen has become the main source for Madagascar.
modernghana.com
Framing · 6 — loaded language surfaced (spin shown, not adopted)
allafrica
“Africa: Middle East War Drives Up Bitumen Costs for African Road Builders”
→ Middle East war increases bitumen costs for African road builders
rfi.fr
“AFRICA - DEVELOPMENT
Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders”
→ Middle East war increases bitumen costs for African road builders
modernghana.com
“Middle East war drives up bitumen costs for African road builders”
→ Middle East war increases bitumen costs for African road builders
allafrica.com
“Keep up with the latest headlines onWhatsApp|LinkedIn”
→ Promotional text for news updates
inkl.com
“Geographyhas traditionally shaped Madagascar's supplies. Most of the country's bitumen came from Gulf producers, shipped from the port of Jebel Ali inDubaithrough the Strait of Hormuz. European supplies played only a sup”
→ Geography shaped Madagascar's bitumen supply; Gulf producers were primary source, Europe secondary
modernghana.com
“That situation has now reversed. European bitumen has become the main sourc”
→ European bitumen has replaced Gulf sources as the primary supply for Madagascar