In this guide8 sections
Short answer
Sourcing tiles from India goes well when you treat it as a sequence. Define the product and your market’s requirements first. Then shortlist suppliers, send every one of them the same written RFQ, and compare quotations on the same Incoterm and named port. Approve physical samples and keep a signed reference. Agree packing, carton marking and loading in writing, confirm documents and payment terms, and inspect before shipment and again on arrival. Most problems in a first container come from a step that was skipped or left vague early on, not from the kiln.
Why importers look at India, and what to check first
India’s ceramic tile industry includes many factories of different sizes and specialisations, working side by side: ceramic wall tiles, glazed vitrified tiles (GVT and PGVT), porcelain floor tiles, large-format slabs and outdoor ranges. For an importer, the attraction is range. You can find premium statement designs and dependable volume products in one market, shipped through west-coast ports.
Range is also the challenge. The same 600 × 1200 mm “marble look” may be offered by dozens of factories, at different body qualities, thicknesses, print resolutions and packing standards. Two quotations that look alike on paper can describe quite different products.
Before you ask anyone for prices, settle three things internally:
- What your customers will use the tile for: wall or floor, residential or commercial, indoor or outdoor, wet or dry areas.
- What your market requires: product standards, slip-resistance method, labelling and any import conditions. See market requirements below.
- What a realistic first order looks like: a trial container with a few designs, or a programme across several sizes and finishes.
The importer’s checklist, step by step
Each step below has a deeper guide. Use this page as the map and the linked guides as the detail.
Define the product and the requirement
Write down body type, size, thickness, finish, edge (rectified or not), application and any technical values your market needs, such as water absorption class or slip rating. If you are unsure which body suits the use, start with porcelain vs ceramic vs glazed vitrified tiles.
Decide who you will buy from
A manufacturer, a merchant exporter or a sourcing partner can all supply an Indian tile container, with different trade-offs. The comparison below sets them out.
Send one clear RFQ to every shortlisted supplier
Use the same document for all of them, with quantities, packing expectations, Incoterm, named port and destination. Our tile RFQ guide includes a copy-ready template.
Compare quotations like for like
Check that each price covers the same product, the same packing and the same delivery point. A CIF price is not a landed cost; FOB vs CIF for tile importers explains what each includes.
Approve samples and keep a reference
Check calibre, shade, flatness and surface, then sign, date and retain an approved reference set, with a matching set kept by the supplier. See how to evaluate tile samples.
Agree packing, marking and loading in writing
Carton grade, edge protection, pallet type, carton marking and loading method all affect breakage. The tile export packing guide covers what to specify.
Confirm documents, payment and inspection
Agree the shipping documents your broker needs, the payment structure and whether an independent pre-shipment inspection will take place, all before production starts.
Receive, inspect and record
Photograph the container on opening, check cartons against the packing list, and note any damage on the delivery receipt before you sign it. Report damage promptly to your forwarder, insurer and supplier.
Manufacturer, merchant exporter or sourcing partner?
There is no single right answer. What matters is knowing which model you are dealing with, and who is the legal seller on your invoice.
| Model | What it means | Can work well when | Check carefully |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer (direct) | You buy from the factory that makes the tile. | You need large, repeat volumes of a few products and can manage the factory relationship yourself. | Export experience, the range limits of one factory, and who handles your questions after shipment. |
| Merchant exporter | A trading company buys from factories and sells to you under its own invoice. | You want one invoice for products from several factories. | Which factory makes each item, and how quality and claims are handled between the parties. |
| Sourcing partner or agent | A local team coordinates enquiries, samples, follow-up and shipping with partner factories on your behalf. | You are comparing options, building a range or buying mixed products. | How they are paid, who the seller is, and exactly what they do and do not take responsibility for. |
Whichever route you choose, ask to see the factory’s product data for each item you buy, and make sure the name on your contract is the party you can actually hold to it.
Know your market’s requirements before you ask for prices
Indian factories ship to many markets, and they can usually supply test data to common standards, but they cannot guess what your market requires. Put it in writing.
Product standards and test reports
Ceramic tiles are classified internationally under ISO 13006, with test methods in the ISO 10545 series. In the European Union, ceramic tiles are covered by the harmonised standard EN 14411 for CE marking Verify current EU construction-product rules and EN 14411 edition with your compliance adviser. In North America, buyers and specifiers often refer to ANSI A137.1, which defines porcelain tile as having water absorption of 0.5% or less. Ask for recent test reports from an accredited laboratory, check the test date, and confirm the report covers the exact product you are buying.
Slip resistance
Slip-resistance methods differ by market: ramp-test R-ratings in parts of Europe, pendulum values in the UK and Australia, and wet DCOF in North America. A rating under one method cannot simply be converted into another Verify which slip-resistance method and value your market or project requires.
Labelling, origin and import conditions
Many markets require country-of-origin marking on the product or its packaging, and some require specific carton information or language Verify origin-marking and labelling rules for your destination. Wooden pallets generally need ISPM 15 treatment and marking. Duties, and in some markets trade-remedy measures on ceramic tiles, depend on your country and change over time; your customs broker should confirm the position before you commit Verify duty rates and any anti-dumping measures with a licensed customs broker.
Factories can usually test to the standard you need. They cannot guess which standard that is.
Documents to expect for a tile shipment
Agree the document set before production. A typical set for a tile container includes:
- Proforma invoice confirming products, quantities, price basis, Incoterm and named place, and payment terms.
- Commercial invoice and packing list showing boxes, square metres, pallets, net and gross weights.
- Bill of lading, original or electronic, as agreed with your bank or forwarder.
- Certificate of origin; ask your broker whether a preferential certificate could apply under a trade agreement with India Verify eligibility for preferential origin with your customs broker.
- Insurance certificate where the seller insures (CIF or CIP).
- Test reports and any declarations your market requires for the product.
- Anything your broker asks for, confirmed in writing before the goods leave the factory.
On payment, common structures include an advance with the balance against shipping documents, or a documentary letter of credit. Choose a structure your bank understands and that matches the trust you have built so far.
First-order risks, and how to reduce them
The same few issues come up in many first containers. None is unusual, and each is easier to prevent than to fix:
- Mixed shades or calibres in one delivery. Ask for a single shade and calibre per product per order where possible, and for each to be printed on the carton.
- Breakage in transit. Specify carton grade, edge protection and loading method, and ask for loading photographs.
- Quotes that were not comparable. Fix the Incoterm, named place, packing and validity period in your RFQ.
- A product that differs from the sample. Keep a signed reference sample and consider an independent pre-shipment inspection.
- Unclear timelines. Treat lead times as estimates until production is confirmed, and plan stock with a margin.
Questions to ask
- Are you the manufacturer, a merchant exporter or a sourcing agent, and who will be the seller on our invoice?
- Which items are regular production, and which would be made to order for us?
- Can you send recent test reports for these exact products, and which laboratory issued them?
- Will each product in our order come from a single shade and calibre lot, and how is that marked on the carton?
- What packing will you use, and can you share loading photographs and the container seal number?
- Which documents will you provide, and how long before shipment can we review drafts?
- How are breakage or quality claims handled after arrival, and what evidence do you need?
For a fuller list grouped by topic, see questions to ask an Indian tile supplier. If you plan to sell under your own brand, read private-label tile sourcing in India before your first order.
How Thorson Tiles can help
Thorson Tiles is an Ahmedabad-based tile supplier and merchant exporter. We are partners with tile manufacturers in India, and we are the seller on your invoice. We turn your requirements into a clear enquiry, check it with suitable partner factories, compare options, send samples and share packing and document details, so you can decide with the facts in front of you. We check every order before loading and handle any quality claim with you. Availability, MOQ, lead time and final specifications are always confirmed at quotation. You can start with our export quote form or read how we work.
Sources & further reading
- Incoterms® 2020 — International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) — official overview of the rules
- ISO 13006:2018 Ceramic tiles — Definitions, classification, characteristics and marking — ISO
- Porcelain tile definition under ANSI A137.1 — ANSI Blog
- 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.
