How to Import Thermoplastic Road Marking Paint from China (Step-by-Step Guide)
This guide walks distributors, contractors, and first-time importers through every stage of buying thermoplastic road marking paint directly from China: choosing the right specification, calculating landed cost, selecting Incoterms, preparing documents, booking freight, and managing quality control.
1. Decide Your Specification
- Usage scenario: highways, urban streets, intersections, airports, parking lots.
- Colour and thickness: white or yellow as standard; typical 2.5–3.5 mm on highways, 1.5–2.5 mm for urban and parking areas.
- Skid and visibility: add anti-skid aggregate where braking/turning is frequent; use drop-on glass beads for night visibility.
- Standards alignment: match project specs to AASHTO (US), BS 3262 (UK), EN 1436 (EU) or local equivalents.
2. Choose Incoterms and Shipping Plan
- FOB: you control ocean freight and insurance; best when you have a forwarder.
- CIF: supplier books sea freight and insurance to your port; you handle local charges.
- DDP: door delivery with duties/taxes included; convenient for first-time importers with limited logistics resources.
- Typical export ports: Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Tianjin.
3. Estimate Landed Cost
Basic idea: Landed Cost ≈ Ex-Factory/FOB Price + Ocean Freight + Insurance + Destination Charges + Duties/Taxes + Local Trucking.
- Container loading reference: 20’ container commonly loads about 14–20 tons depending on packaging and pallets.
- Save cost by consolidating colours on mixed pallets and planning seasonal demand to avoid peak-rate surcharges.
4. Documents You Will Need
- Proforma Invoice and Commercial Invoice
- Packing List (net/gross weight, number of bags, pallets)
- Bill of Lading (sea) or Air Waybill (air)
- Certificate of Origin (e.g., Form E/FTA if applicable)
- Compliance dossier on request: material safety information, standard conformity statement (AASHTO/BS 3262/EN 1436), test records
5. Quality Control and Acceptance
- Pre-shipment checks: verify colour, bead content, binder content, granule uniformity, bagging and palletization.
- On-site acceptance: confirm film thickness and bead embedment; measure skid and visibility where required.
- Promotion for importers: full 20’ container orders include one retroreflectometer and one marking thickness gauge at no charge (no brand specified) to support acceptance testing.
6. Delivery Timeline
- Sampling and approval: usually 3–7 working days for standard formulas.
- Production lead time: commonly 3–5 days depending on colour and OEM packaging.
- Transit time: depends on destination port and carrier schedule.
7. Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Only comparing price per ton and ignoring coverage at your target thickness.
- Skipping bead plan (premix + drop-on) and then failing night visibility targets.
- Underestimating local port and clearance costs when comparing FOB vs. CIF vs. DDP.
- Missing seasonal heat or rainfall considerations when choosing the formulation.
8. Supplier Evaluation Checklist
- Proof of conformity to AASHTO / BS 3262 / EN 1436 or your local standard.
- Stable formulations with documented batch testing and COA per lot.
- OEM capability: multilingual bags, private label, custom colour and pallet plans.
- After-sales technical support: application training, troubleshooting, acceptance testing guidance.
Our Thermoplastic Road Marking Paint
| Brand / Product | Traffic Love® Thermoplastic Road Marking Paint |
| Type | Hot-applied thermoplastic for highways, urban roads, airports, parking |
| Colours | White / Yellow (custom colours available) |
| Glass Beads | Premix 30–35% with optional drop-on plan |
| Skid Resistance | Formulations available for high-friction zones |
| Recommended Thickness | 2.5–3.5 mm (highways), 1.5–2.5 mm (urban/parking) |
| Coverage Reference | About 3.5–4.0 m² per 25 kg at ~3.0 mm, depending on line type |
| Package | 25 kg moisture-resistant bags; 1-ton jumbo bags |
| Compliance | AASHTO, BS 3262, EN 1436 (regional options on request) |
| Factory Price | USD 260–700 per ton (formula and volume dependent) |
| MOQ | 5 tons |
| Delivery Time | Approximately 30 days |
| Supported Trade Terms | FOB, CIF, DDP, EXW |
| Delivery Port Options | Shanghai, Ningbo, Qingdao, Shenzhen, Tianjin |
| OEM / Private Label | Custom bags, artwork and documentation available |
Trade Information
| Payment Options | T/T, L/C for qualified buyers; phased terms after stable cooperation |
| Container Reference | 20’ GP typically 14–20 tons depending on colour mix and pallets |
| Sample Policy | Small samples available; freight collect or offset in order |
| After-Sales Support | Application training, acceptance testing guidance, troubleshooting |
Distributor Recruitment
We are recruiting global distributors with options for exclusive territory, training, online marketing support, and flexible payment terms after stable cooperation. Joint-venture discussions for local manufacturing are welcome. Full-container orders receive a complimentary retroreflectometer and marking thickness gauge to support quality acceptance.
Referral & Commission Program
If you have strong connections with government agencies, road authorities, or construction contractors, we welcome you to introduce potential clients to us. We offer a commission-based referral reward for each successful introduction. Whether you are an industry consultant, project intermediary, or simply well-connected, we value and reward your referrals.
