Sourcing road-marking glass beads from China

Duty and classification for road-marking beads

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, heading 7018 covers glass beads and glass microspheres, including microspheres not exceeding 1 mm in diameter. The relevant lines shown carry 0% duty for goods from China, with no recorded anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspensions or attached controls.

The table shows classification candidates, not interchangeable road-marking grades. Confirm the commodity code from diameter, solid or hollow construction, processing and product description. See the wider glass beads guide. Other article lines in this heading attach cat and dog fur controls: imports and exports of such fur and products made from it are banned.

For drop-on beads, settle the construction-product conformity route before ordering. Under the CE route for products covered by a harmonised standard, obtain the declaration of performance and CE marking. CE marking remains available for construction products placed on the Great Britain market. Ask for a document and testing review matched to the actual product.

Specify drop-on or premix beads

State whether beads will be sprinkled onto a fresh marking or mixed into the marking material. Specify the sieve grading, roundness, refractive index, glass clarity, surface treatment, moisture condition and bag weight. Name the road-marking standard and acceptance tests in the contract.

Ask the factory to identify any adhesion or moisture-resistant treatment and demonstrate compatibility with your paint or thermoplastic. Approve a sample in the intended marking system, checking bead flow, embedment and retroreflection. Keep the approved sample and batch test results for comparison with deliveries.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 2 tonnes of solid road-marking glass microspheres; illustrative order and values under 7018 20 00 10, invoiced at £18,000 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £19,500. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £19,500, so it is £3,900. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Grading: sieve samples from different bags and compare the retained fractions with the agreed grading.

Shape and clarity: examine samples for broken, angular, opaque or fused particles and compare roundness with the approved sample.

Flow and packing: check for dampness, clumps, leaking seams and contamination; weigh bags and record batch identifiers.

Application and documents: trial the beads with the intended binder; match the grade, intended use, declaration of performance and marking label. Use the inspection guide to define the inspection scope.

What goes wrong

Wrong grading can change bead distribution and embedment. Broken or cloudy particles can weaken retroreflection, while damp beads clump and feed unevenly. A surface treatment that does not suit the binder can leave beads poorly retained in the marking.

A report for another grade does not establish the performance of your shipment. Match documents and samples to the supplied product, then check an application trial before accepting a substituted grading or coating.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For own-brand ranges, see sourcing for brands.