Comparison Between WPC (Wood-Plastic Composite) and Aluminum-Plastic Composite_Blog

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Material Composition

WPC: Made from a mixture of plant fibers (such as wood powder and straw) and plastics (such as polyethylene and polypropylene). Some products are added with additives like antioxidants, and formed through extrusion and molding processes. High-end models may adopt co-extrusion technology to enhance performance.
Aluminum-Plastic Composite: Features a composite structure of "aluminum alloy core layer + plastic layer", usually with coated aluminum sheet as the surface layer and polyethylene plastic as the core material. Some products are equipped with co-extrusion film coating, and no adhesives are required during production.

Core Foreign Trade Parameters

Comparison Dimension	WPC	Aluminum-Plastic Composite
Reference Price	The price range varies significantly. According to Made-in-China.com, most board products are priced at $0.8-$7.26 per meter or per square meter, and WPC platforms for swimming pools cost $16-$17 per square meter.	It has a wide price span. Decorative aluminum-plastic composite panels are priced at $2-$35 per square meter, and 3-4mm thick decorative panels are usually $8-$22 per square meter.
Minimum order Quantity (MOQ)	Requirements differ by product type. For wall panels, the MOQ is mostly 300-1500 meters; for boards, it is usually 100 pieces.	The common MOQ is 500-1000 square meters. For some thin fireproof aluminum-plastic composite panels, the MOQ is 1000 square meters, while for small-specification products, it can be as low as 300 square meters.
Certification Standards	Some products hold common foreign trade certifications like CE and ROHS, meeting the import requirements of regions such as Europe and America.	Most products are certified with CE, ASTM, ISO9001, etc. Fireproof models are also equipped with fire rating certifications, complying with building material import regulations in many countries.
Warranty Period	The warranty period of mainstream products is 5 years, and some high-end models can offer up to 15 years of warranty.	The warranty period is mostly 5-15 years, and some high-end fireproof aluminum-plastic composite panels can provide 10-15 years of warranty service.

Core Performance & Foreign Trade Selling Points

Performance Dimension	WPC	Aluminum-Plastic Composite
Core Advantages	Boasts realistic wood grain effect, ideal for overseas home and garden decoration; has basic waterproof and moisture-proof performance, and is made from agricultural and forestry wastes, aligning with overseas environmental concepts; supports customized textures and sizes, and offers OEM/ODM services.	Lightweight yet high-strength, facilitating cross-border transportation and reducing logistics costs; integrates complete functions like fire resistance, anti-static, anti-bacterial and anti-mold, meeting the safety standards of overseas commercial buildings; the surface can be painted and color-printed, suitable for decoration in scenarios such as exterior walls and advertising boards.
Shortcomings	Prone to fading after long-term outdoor use, with obvious thermal expansion and contraction; it is necessary to inform overseas customers in advance to reserve expansion joints during installation; difficult to recycle, which may be restricted in some regions.	Has a relatively hard foot feel; some thin products may produce an empty sound when used for floor paving; the unit price is higher than WPC, making it less attractive to small and medium-sized overseas buyers with limited budgets.

Foreign Trade Adaptation Scenarios

WPC: As indicated on Made-in-China.com, its products are mainly used for outdoor swimming pool platforms, garden floors, courtyard flower boxes, indoor wall panels, etc., and are suitable for sale to markets such as the European and American home gardening market and the Southeast Asian homestay decoration market.
Aluminum-Plastic Composite: Focuses on scenarios including exterior wall curtain walls, interior decoration, advertising boards and exhibition platforms. The products are exported to more than 60 countries and regions such as Southeast Asia, Australia and the Middle East, and are especially suitable for bulk procurement needs like overseas large-scale construction projects and commercial advertising decoration.