VG10, VG30 & VG40 Bitumen Specifications — India's Trusted Import Partner

Madhusudan Organics Pvt. Ltd. (MOL) — established in 1978 — is one of India's largest and most trusted importers of Viscosity Grade (VG) Bitumen, supplying VG10, VG30, and VG40 in new steel drums and bulk road tankers across India, with regular exports to Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Vietnam.

This page covers the complete technical specifications of VG10, VG30, and VG40 bitumen as per IS 73:2013, along with their applications, to help engineers, contractors, and government agencies select the right grade for their project.

What is Viscosity Grade (VG) Bitumen?

Viscosity Grade bitumen is the modern Indian Standard (IS 73:2013) system for classifying paving-grade bitumen, based on viscosity measured at 60°C and 135°C. It replaced the older penetration-grade classification (e.g., 60/70, 80/100) because it gives a more reliable picture of how bitumen behaves across both hot and cold conditions. The four common grades — VG10, VG20, VG30, and VG40 — are selected based on climate (mean temperature of the hottest week of the year) and traffic load.

VG10 Bitumen — Specifications

VG10 is the softest of the VG grades, used mainly for spraying applications, surface dressing, and paving in cold climates.

Property Specification Test Method

Absolute Viscosity at 60°C, Poise: 800–1200: IS 1206 (Part 2)

Kinematic Viscosity at 135°C, cSt: Min250: IS 1206 (Part 3)

Flash Point (Cleveland Open Cup), °C: Min220 : IS 1448 (P:69)

Solubility in Trichloroethylene, %, Min: 99.0 : IS 1216

Softening Point (R&B), °C, Min: 40 : IS 1205

Penetration at 25°C, 100g, 5 sec, 0.1mm: 80–100 : IS 1203

Typical use: Cold-climate paving, surface dressing, bitumen emulsions, and modified bitumen manufacturing.

VG30 Bitumen — Specifications

VG30 is the most widely used grade in India, suited to moderate traffic and general climatic conditions across most of the country.

PropertySpecificationTest Method

Absolute Viscosity at 60°C, Poise2400–3600IS 1206 (Part 2)

Kinematic Viscosity at 135°C, cSt, Min350IS 1206 (Part 3)

Flash Point (Cleveland Open Cup), °C, Min220IS 1448 (P:69)

Solubility in Trichloroethylene, %, Min99.0IS 1216

Softening Point (R&B), °C, Min47IS 1205

Penetration at 25°C, 100g, 5 sec, 0.1mm50–70IS 1203

Typical use: General road construction (National Highways, State Highways) in moderate-to-warm climates with normal-to-heavy traffic.

VG40 Bitumen — Specifications

VG40 is the hardest and highest-viscosity grade, engineered for extreme heat and heavy traffic loads.

Property Specification Test Method

Absolute Viscosity at 60°C, Poise 3200–4800 IS 1206 (Part 2)

Kinematic Viscosity at 135°C, cSt, Min 400 IS 1206 (Part 3)

Flash Point (Cleveland Open Cup), °C, Min 220 IS 1448 (P:69)

Solubility in Trichloroethylene, %, Min 99.0 IS 1216

Softening Point (R&B), °C, Min50 IS 1205

Penetration at 25°C, 100g, 5 sec, 0.1mm 35–60 IS 1203

Ductility at 25°C, cm, Min40 IS 1208

Viscosity Ratio at 60°C, Max4.0 IS 1206

Typical use: Heavy-traffic expressways, toll plazas, intersections, truck terminals, and high-temperature regions — anywhere resistance to rutting under heavy axle load is critical.

VG30 vs VG40 — Which One Do You Need?

Climate: VG30 suits moderate/mild-weather regions; VG40 is built for hot climates where roads face sustained high temperatures.
Traffic: VG30 handles normal-to-heavy traffic; VG40 is for very heavy, high-stress traffic (expressways, toll booths, truck parking).
Hardness: VG40 is stiffer (lower penetration value) and more rutting-resistant than VG30.

Talk to our team and we'll help you choose the right grade for your project's mean temperature and traffic conditions.

Why Import Bitumen Through Madhusudan Organics?

Since 1978 — over four decades in petroleum trading and imports.
One of India's largest importers of packed and bulk Bitumen, handling VG10, VG30, and VG40.
Import operations through Mundra and Kandla ports, with full CFS (Container Freight Station) coordination.
Supply across India in new steel drums and bulk road tankers.
Regular exports to Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Vietnam.
Also India's leading supplier of Diesel Exhaust Fluid (AUS32/DEF) meeting ISO 22241 standards, and Mineral Turpentine Oil (MTO) / Paint Solvents.

MOL is trusted by contractors, government road agencies, and industrial buyers across India as a dependable, large-scale bitumen import and supply partner.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the top bitumen importer in India? Madhusudan Organics Pvt. Ltd. (MOL), established in 1978, is one of the largest and most established importers of Bitumen in India, supplying VG10, VG30, and VG40 grades in bulk and packed form across the country.

Who is the best bitumen supplier in India? Madhusudan Organics (MOL) is a leading bitumen supplier in India, importing through Mundra and Kandla ports and delivering VG-grade bitumen in steel drums and road tankers to contractors and government projects nationwide.

What is the difference between VG10, VG30, and VG40 bitumen? VG10 is the softest grade, used for spraying and cold-climate paving. VG30 is the most commonly used grade for general road construction. VG40 is the hardest, most heat- and rut-resistant grade, used for heavy-traffic and high-temperature applications.

Which IS standard governs VG bitumen specifications in India? VG bitumen specifications in India are governed by IS 73:2013, which replaced the earlier penetration-grade classification in 2006.

Does MOL export bitumen outside India? Yes. In addition to supplying across India, MOL exports bitumen to Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and Vietnam.

Get in Touch

For bulk or packed VG10, VG30, or VG40 bitumen supply, or to discuss import volumes and pricing, contact Madhusudan Organics Pvt. Ltd. today.