In this guide10 sections
Short answer
Before placing a container order with an Indian tile supplier, confirm five things in writing: who the legal seller is and whether they make the tile themselves; exactly which product, size, thickness, finish and grade you are buying; how quality, calibre and shade are controlled and evidenced; how the order will be packed, loaded and documented for your destination; and the commercial terms, including MOQ, price validity, payment and claims. Clear, specific answers matter more than impressive ones.
Why the right questions matter
India’s tile industry includes large integrated plants, specialist units and smaller factories, alongside merchant exporters and agents who sell their output. Many can show similar catalogues, because digital print designs circulate widely across the industry.
That variety is an advantage for buyers, but it means a catalogue tells you little about how an order will actually be handled. The questions below follow the order in which a container order unfolds. You will not need every one for every supplier; use them to find where the answers become vague.
A catalogue tells you what a supplier can show. The answers to these questions tell you how your container will actually be made, packed and shipped.
Who you are actually buying from
Manufacturers, merchant exporters and sourcing agents are all normal in Indian tile exports; problems arise when roles are unclear.
Questions to ask about the company
- Are you the manufacturer, a merchant exporter or a sourcing agent? If you do not make the tile, which factory does, and will it stay the same for reorders?
- Which legal entity will appear on the proforma invoice, commercial invoice and bill of lading? This is the party your contract, payment and any claim are with.
- Can you share your export registrations? Indian exporters normally need an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) and GST registration; ask for the numbers so your bank or broker can check them. Verify current Indian export registration requirements (IEC, GST) against DGFT guidance
- Who is my day-to-day contact, and who decides on quality disputes? A sales contact who cannot get answers from production slows every later step.
A good answer here is plain and consistent across documents. Be cautious if the name on the quotation, the bank account and the shipper on the draft bill of lading do not match and nobody can explain why.
Product, range and production
Product and range
Questions to ask about the product
- What is the body type and water-absorption class of this item? Ceramic, porcelain and glazed vitrified tiles are priced and used differently; see our product comparison guide.
- What are the exact work size, thickness and edge (rectified or not)? “600 × 1200” can describe several actual dimensions and thicknesses.
- Which finishes exist for this design, and how many faces does it have? More faces (print variations) usually give a more natural-looking floor.
- Is this item in regular production or made to order? Regular items are easier to reorder and match; made-to-order items need firmer planning.
Production and scheduling
Questions to ask about production
- Which line will produce my format, and how often is it run? A factory that rarely runs your size may need to wait for a production slot.
- How do you schedule a container order, and what lead time would you confirm at order? Ask what it depends on (stock, design changes, line availability) rather than accepting a single number.
- Can my order be produced in one batch? A single production run usually means fewer shade and calibre lots in your container.
Quality grading, testing and inspection
Grade names such as “export”, “premium” or “first” quality mean different things at different factories, so ask for the definition behind each label.
Questions to ask about quality
- What exactly does your grade name mean? Ask which defects are tolerated, how sorting is done (visual, automatic or both) and what happens to tiles that fall outside the grade.
- How do you sort and mark calibre and shade? Cartons should show the size calibre and the shade or tone lot; ask how many lots a typical container contains.
- Which tests do you run in-house, and can you share recent third-party test reports? Check the report date, the laboratory, the standard used and that the product named matches the one you are buying.
- Can I, or an inspection company I appoint, inspect before loading? Ask what access is given, at which stage, and whether cartons can be opened at random.
For what to check when samples and inspection results arrive, see how to evaluate tile samples, calibre, shade and packaging.
Packing, shipping and documents
Packing and loading
Questions to ask about packing
- What is your standard export packing for this item? Pieces and square metres per carton, carton weight, cartons per pallet, pallet type, and whether wooden pallets are ISPM 15 treated and marked.
- How much fits in one container at the permitted weight? Tiles usually reach the weight limit before the space limit, so ask for square metres per container for your exact size and thickness. Verify container payload and road-weight limits for the destination
- Will you share loading photos and the verified gross mass (VGM)? Under SOLAS rules, a packed container needs a verified gross mass before it can be loaded on a ship.
Our tile export packing guide goes deeper into cartons, pallets and loading.
Shipping and documents
Questions to ask about shipping
- From which port do you usually ship, and which Incoterms® rules do you quote? Indian tile suppliers commonly quote FOB or CIF from west-coast ports such as Mundra or Kandla; make sure every quote uses the same basis. Verify usual ports of shipment for Indian tile exports
- Which documents do you provide as standard? Typically a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin, plus any test reports you have agreed.
- Can you meet my market’s specific requirements? Your customs broker should confirm what applies, such as a certificate-of-origin format or conformity documents.
For how the two most common terms divide cost and risk, read FOB vs CIF for tile importers.
Commercial terms and after-shipment support
Price, MOQ and payment
Questions to ask about commercial terms
- What is the minimum order per design and per size? Ask whether a full container must be a single item or can be mixed, and how many items a mixed container can hold.
- How long is the price valid, and what could change it? Ask whether it holds until order or until shipment.
- Which payment terms do you offer, and in which currency? Common structures include an advance with the balance against shipping documents, or a letter of credit. Agree terms you and your bank fully understand before production starts.
After shipment
Questions to ask about after-sales
- How are claims handled? Ask what evidence is needed (photos, carton labels, a survey report), the time limit for reporting, and whether resolution is replacement, credit or refund.
- Is there a breakage or defect allowance? If a percentage is mentioned, get it in writing together with how it will be counted.
- How do you handle reorders? Ask whether shade can be matched, how long designs stay in production, and whether samples from your batch are retained.
Reading the answers
No single answer decides whether a supplier is right for you; patterns do.
| Topic | Reassuring answer | Worth probing |
|---|---|---|
| Role | A clear statement of who makes the tile and who invoices | Seller, factory and bank account names that differ without explanation |
| Specification | Exact work size, thickness, edge, finish and body type in writing | “Standard size” or “same as sample” with no numbers |
| Grade | A definition of the grade and how tiles are sorted | Grade names used without any definition |
| Test reports | A recent report from a named laboratory for the same product | Old, unnamed or generic reports for a different item |
| Lead time | A range, with the factors that affect it | A fixed promise before the order details are known |
| Packing | Carton and pallet details, weights and loading photos offered | Packing described only as “export standard” |
| Claims | A written process with evidence required and time limits | “There are never any problems” |
Comparing several suppliers fairly
When you speak to more than one supplier, make the comparison like for like before you look at price.
- Send every supplier the same written specification, ideally a structured tile RFQ.
- Ask all of them to quote on the same Incoterm, port and currency.
- Compare price per square metre and square metres per container, carton weight and packing.
- Request samples of the exact item, finish and thickness quoted, not a similar one.
- Record every answer in one sheet so gaps are visible.
- Weigh payment, claims and reorder terms alongside price.
The cheapest quotation is not always the least expensive container. Differences in grade, thickness, packing or shade control can cost more at destination than the price gap at origin.
How Thorson Tiles can help
Thorson Tiles is an Ahmedabad-based tile supplier and exporter. We are partners with tile manufacturers in India. We put these questions to our partner factories, give you the answers in writing, compare options side by side, and send samples and packing details for the items you shortlist. Availability, MOQ, lead time and specifications are confirmed at quotation, and we will tell you plainly when something cannot be confirmed.
Sources & further reading
- Incoterms® 2020 — International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) — official overview of the current rules
- ISO 13006:2018 Ceramic tiles — Definitions, classification, characteristics and marking — ISO
- Safe transport of containers (SOLAS verified gross mass) — International Maritime Organization
- ISPM 15: Regulation of wood packaging material in international trade — IPPC
Standards are summarised for orientation only. Buy or consult the current edition of any standard before writing it into a contract or specification.
