Rex Fuels Expo heads to Muscat as bitumen supply chain strains mount

The 20th Rex Fuels Global Expo & Conference opens Aug. 31 in Muscat, Oman, as India’s fast-growing road network, tighter bitumen imports and West Asia supply disruptions put the industry’s logistics and sourcing challenges in focus. The event is set against rising demand, a widening supply gap and Oman’s expanding role as both a supplier and an infrastructure market.

Why it matters: - India’s road-building boom is increasing demand for bitumen, while regional disruptions have made supply more fragile. - The conference lands at a point when producers, traders, logistics firms and road contractors are all dealing with the same problem: how to keep material moving reliably. - Oman matters because it sits in a trade lane that connects Gulf supply with Indian demand.

What happened: - The 20th Edition of the Rex Fuels Global Expo & Conference is scheduled for 31 August 2026 at the Grand Millennium Muscat in Oman. - The event brings together the bitumen, fuels, refining, road construction and logistics sectors. - The timing comes as the industry weighs demand growth, freight uncertainty and shifting supply routes.

The details: - India’s National Highway network has expanded from 91,287 km in 2014 to 146,560 km, according to the Government of India. - Four-lane-and-above National Highways have more than doubled to 43,512 km over the same period. - Operational access-controlled expressways and high-speed corridors have reached 3,052 km. - India consumed about 8.74 million tonnes of bitumen in 2025, up from 8.43 million tonnes in 2024. - Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said in May 2026 that India needs about 12 million tonnes of bitumen a year, while domestic petroleum companies can produce around 5 million tonnes. - India’s bitumen imports fell to about 905,000 tonnes from January to June 2026, down about 50% from the same period in 2025, according to Indian customs data reported by Argus. - Second-quarter imports fell about 68% year on year. - More than 99% of India’s bitumen imports come from Iraq, the UAE, Iran, Oman and Bahrain. - World Bank trade data shows Oman exported 27.36 million kg of petroleum bitumen in 2023, and 24.57 million kg went to India. - India accounted for almost 90% of Oman’s petroleum bitumen exports that year. - Oman’s strategic road projects under Vision 2040 include the 135-km fourth stage of the Sultan Said bin Taimur Road and the roughly 71-km Sultan Faisal bin Turki Road. - Ongoing upgrades also include the Al Rusayl–Nizwa corridor and the Muscat Expressway. - A dual carriageway connecting Duqm Airport and Ras Markaz stretches more than 51 km and links the airport with oil storage facilities and industrial developments. - Two major road projects in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm total about 67 km and connect industrial, commercial, logistics and renewable-energy developments. - Oman awarded 74 government contracts worth RO734 million in the first seven months of 2026, with roads and transport among the sectors driving spending. - A RO157 million expansion of the Muscat Expressway was one of the major contracts awarded in that period. - More information, social updates, Facebook page, YouTube channel, X account

Between the lines: - The conference is not just about prices or contracts. It reflects a broader shift in bitumen from a commodity discussion to a supply-chain and infrastructure planning issue. - Oman is positioning itself as both a transit point and a growth market, which makes Muscat a practical location for industry discussions. - The combination of Indian demand, Gulf supply concentration and maritime risk leaves buyers and producers with less room for delay or disruption.

What's next: - Delegates in Muscat are expected to focus on demand visibility, supply security, freight conditions and route resilience. - The conference may also highlight how Gulf producers and Indian buyers adjust procurement and delivery strategies over the next five years. - Oman’s road and logistics buildout will likely remain a key backdrop for future industry meetings and trade decisions.

The bottom line: - Bitumen is no longer just a materials story. For India, Oman and the wider Gulf, it is now a supply-chain story tied directly to roads, freight and industrial growth.