Tile Export Packing: Cartons, Pallets, Loading and Damage Prevention

Where tile damage really happens

Tiles leave the kiln hard and stable. Most problems start later, in handling and transit:

• Chipped corners and edges from cartons dropped or knocked during forklift work.
• Crushed edges where strapping bites into cartons without corner protection.
• Scratched faces on polished or glossy tiles that rub together without separators.
• Collapsed bottom tiers when cartons are stacked too high or the board is too weak, especially after exposure to humidity.
• Shifted loads when gaps in the container let pallets or cartons slide during the voyage.

Each of these is a packing or loading decision, so most can be prevented before the container is sealed.

Cartons: board strength, protection and marking

Board strength

Ask which board grade the supplier uses for your size, for example 3-ply or 5-ply corrugated board, and whether heavier formats move to a stronger grade. A carton that is fine in a dry warehouse may soften in a humid container.

Protection inside the carton

Corner or edge protectors, in moulded pulp, polystyrene or folded board, take the impact that would otherwise chip a tile. For polished, high-gloss or lappato finishes, ask for paper, foam or film separators between faces. Large-format tiles may need rigid frames or crates rather than cartons; confirm the method for each size.

What the carton should say

Clear marking keeps matching lots together in your warehouse and on site. At a minimum, ask for:

• Product name or code, size and finish.
• Calibre (size grade) and shade or lot number, printed or stamped on every carton.
• Pieces per carton, square metres per carton and gross weight.
• Quality grade and country of origin (“Made in India”).
• Handling symbols, and your own branding or barcodes if agreed.

ISO 13006 sets out marking expectations for tiles or their packaging, including origin, quality and size information Verify marking requirements for your market and standard. If you sell under your own brand, see our private-label guide for artwork and approval.

Pallets, strapping and wrapping

Wooden pallets, and any timber used for bracing, are regulated wood packaging material. Under the international standard ISPM 15, the wood must be debarked and treated, either heat-treated (HT) or fumigated with methyl bromide (MB), and carry the IPPC mark with a country code, producer code and treatment code. Ask for heat-treated wood: many buyers prefer it and some countries restrict methyl bromide Verify wood-packaging import rules for your destination. A photo of the mark on your pallets costs nothing to request.

A well-built tile pallet usually has:

• a deck sized to the carton footprint, with no cartons overhanging the edges;
• full-height corner boards so straps load the board, not the carton edges;
• horizontal and vertical strapping, tensioned without crushing;
• a top board or cap to spread strap pressure across the top layer;
• stretch film or a shrink hood against dust and moisture;
• a pallet label on at least two sides showing product, calibre, shade, carton count and weight.

Palletised or floor-loaded?

Tiles travel either on pallets or as loose cartons stacked on the container floor.

Palletised

Faster, safer forklift unloading, fewer touches per carton and easier storage. The trade-offs are pallet cost, ISPM 15 compliance and the weight and space pallets take from your payload.

Floor-loaded

More of the payload can be tiles, with no wood packaging to regulate. But every carton is handled by hand at both ends, unloading takes much longer and corner damage becomes more likely. Cartons must be stacked tightly and braced.

Let your unloading facilities decide. Without a forklift at destination, plan carefully before choosing pallets.

Loading the container: weight first, then volume

Because tiles are dense, a container usually reaches its maximum payload well before it is full. That is why tiles commonly ship in 20-foot containers Verify container choice and payload limits with the shipping line and forwarder. Two limits matter: the container’s rated maximum, and the road weight limits in your country for the truck that will collect it, which may be lower. Tell the supplier your limit before they plan the load.

Weight distribution

The load should be spread evenly along the floor, with heavier items at the bottom and the centre of gravity close to the middle of the container. A load concentrated at one end is unsafe to lift and drive.

Verified gross mass (VGM)

Since 1 July 2016, SOLAS rules have required the shipper to declare a verified gross mass for every packed container before it is loaded on a ship, either by weighing the packed container or by weighing the contents and adding the container’s tare weight using an approved method. Ask who will declare the VGM and by which method.

Securing the load

Gaps between pallets, or between the load and the doors, should be filled with dunnage bags (airbags), timber bracing or blocking so nothing can slide. The IMO/ILO/UNECE Code of Practice for Packing of Cargo Transport Units (the CTU Code) is the widely used good-practice reference for this work.

Before the first carton goes in

• Container is clean, dry and free of odours, with no holes (check for light from inside with the doors closed).
• Floor is sound, with no protruding nails or damaged boards.
• Doors, seals and locking bars work, and the safety approval (CSC) plate is present.
• Cartons are dry when loaded, with desiccants if the supplier recommends them.

Loading photos and records to ask for

Loading photos are your evidence if something goes wrong, and they show how carefully the load was built. Agree in advance that the supplier will share:

1. The empty container interior, the container number and the CSC plate.
2. The first tier, a mid-load view and the bracing or airbags in place.
3. The final load at the doors, then the doors closed.
4. A clear close-up of the seal and its number.
5. The packing list, with carton counts by product, calibre and shade, and the VGM declaration.

On arrival: inspecting and documenting damage

Under FOB and CIF, the transit risk is yours from the moment the container is loaded in India (see FOB vs CIF for tile importers). Good arrival discipline protects any claim:

• Check that the seal number matches the bill of lading before the doors are opened.
• Photograph the doors, the seal and the load as soon as the doors open, then each stage of unloading.
• Count pallets or cartons against the packing list and note any visible damage on the delivery receipt before signing. Avoid signing a “clean” receipt for a damaged load.
• Keep damaged tiles and packaging until the insurer or carrier has seen them or agreed otherwise.
• Notify the forwarder, carrier and insurer in writing promptly. Notice periods vary by contract, policy and route, and some are only days Verify claim notice periods under your insurance policy and carrier terms.

For checks before shipment, see how to evaluate samples, calibre, shade and packaging.