How to Import Porcelain Tiles from India: A Complete Step-by-Step Guide

India ships porcelain tiles to over 100 countries every year. The bulk of that production comes from a single district in Gujarat: Morbi. If you are a buyer in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Africa, or Europe looking for large-format porcelain tiles at factory-direct prices, sourcing from India is not just a cost decision. It is a quality decision. Manufacturers here run continuous kilns, invest in digital printing lines, and produce formats up to 1200x2400 mm that compete with Italian and Spanish output at a fraction of the landed cost.

Rollence Granito is a Morbi-based porcelain tile manufacturer that exports to 40+ countries across residential, commercial, and hospitality projects. This guide walks through the complete import process: from shortlisting suppliers to clearing customs in your country. Whether you are importing for the first time or switching from a current supplier, each step below will save you time and prevent costly errors.

The guide covers supplier evaluation, sample ordering, quality specifications, pricing terms, shipping documentation, and post-arrival checks. Read it once before you contact any factory, and use it as a reference checklist through your first shipment.

 

Step 1: Understand What You Are Importing

Porcelain tiles from India fall into distinct categories. Buyers who confuse them end up with wrong specifications and disputes at customs. Know these before you send a single enquiry.

Tile Categories Exported from India

Category	Full Name	Best Use	Common Sizes (mm)
GVT	Glazed Vitrified Tile	Indoor floors, walls, feature surfaces	600x600, 800x800, 600x1200
PGVT	Polished Glazed Vitrified Tile	Premium indoor floors, lobbies	600x1200, 800x800, 1200x1200
Full Body	Full Body Vitrified	High-traffic floors, outdoor covered	600x600, 800x800
Double Charged	Double Charged Vitrified	Residential floors, commercial spaces	600x600, 800x800
Slab / Slabs	Large Format Porcelain Slab	Feature walls, countertops, facades	800x1600, 1200x2400
Digital Wall	Digital Ceramic Wall Tile	Bathrooms, kitchen walls	300x600, 300x900

 

Rollence Granito produces GVT, PGVT, and large-format slab collections. If your project needs parking tiles or outdoor terrace tiles, those require different technical specifications including slip resistance ratings. Confirm the end-use application with your supplier before finalising size and surface finish.

Surface Finish Options

• Matt: Low sheen, hides footmarks, suited for commercial and outdoor applications
• Gloss / Polished: High reflectivity, suited for premium interiors, shows watermarks more
• Satin / Sugar: Soft finish between matt and gloss, popular for residential floors
• Carving / Embossed: Textured surface, used for feature walls and accent areas
• Lappato: Partial polish, smooth centre with micro-textured edges

 

Step 2: Find and Shortlist Porcelain Tile Exporters from India

Morbi in Gujarat accounts for over 70% of India's ceramic and porcelain tile output. Most export-grade factories are clustered within a 30 km radius. Finding a supplier here is not difficult. Finding one that can handle export documentation, consistent quality across repeat orders, and your required formats is the real task.

Where to Find Verified Exporters

• IndiaMART and TradeIndia: Large B2B directories with factory listings; useful for initial shortlisting but require verification
• Alibaba India Suppliers: Some Morbi manufacturers list here; useful for international buyers familiar with the platform
• CAPEXIL and FIEO: Indian government export councils that maintain verified exporter lists
• Direct Google search: Search 'porcelain tile exporters Morbi Gujarat' and check websites for export history and product catalogues
• Trade fairs: Acetech (Mumbai), Big 5 (Dubai), and Cersaie (Italy) where Morbi manufacturers exhibit regularly

 

What to Check Before Contacting a Factory

Do not send an RFQ to 10 factories blindly. Run a short check on each:

• Does the factory website show current collections with sizes and technical specs?
• Are export references or testimonials listed from your target region?
• Does the company have an ISO 9001 or similar quality management certification?
• Is the factory a manufacturer or a trader re-labelling goods from another unit?
• Can they share BIS or equivalent test certificates for tile standards?

 

Rollence Granito is a direct manufacturer with its own kiln lines in Morbi, not a trading company. This distinction matters for price, lead time, and quality control.

Step 3: Request and Evaluate Tile Samples

Never confirm an order without physical samples. Photos and videos do not capture surface texture, lippage, calibration, or the weight and density of a tile. Samples are the single most important step in the pre-order process.

How to Request Samples

When writing to a supplier, specify these in your sample request:

• Exact size required (e.g. 600x1200 mm)
• Surface finish (matt / gloss / satin / lappato)
• Tile category (GVT / PGVT / full body)
• Collection name or visual reference (wood-look, marble-look, concrete-look, etc.)
• Number of pieces needed (typically 2-4 pieces per design for evaluation)

 

Most factories ship samples at buyer's cost via DHL or FedEx. Budget USD 30-80 for courier charges per sample batch. Some exporters offer free samples for serious enquiries above a threshold order size.

How to Evaluate Samples

Check Point	What to Look For	Red Flag
Calibration	All tiles in the same batch should be within 0.3 mm in size	Visible size variation between pieces
Flatness / Lippage	Surface bow not exceeding 0.5% of tile length	Visibly curved or warped edges
Surface Finish	Consistent gloss or matt across the full tile face	Patchy or uneven finish zones
Print Clarity	Sharp digital print without blurring at edges of pattern	Blurred or faded design edges
Water Absorption	Below 0.5% for porcelain (ask for test certificate)	No test data provided
Colour Shade	Shade consistency within a lot (ask for shade number)	No shade marking on sample box

 

Step 4: Get Pricing and Understand Trade Terms

Indian tile exporters quote in USD. Prices vary by category, size, surface finish, and order quantity. Understanding Incoterms before negotiating saves misunderstandings later.

Indicative Price Ranges (FOB Mundra / Nhava Sheva)

Tile Category	Size (mm)	FOB Price Range (USD/sq m)
GVT Matt / Satin	600x600	USD 4.50 - 7.00
GVT Gloss	600x1200	USD 6.00 - 9.50
PGVT Polished	800x800	USD 7.00 - 11.00
PGVT Large Format	1200x1200	USD 10.00 - 16.00
Large Format Slab	800x1600	USD 14.00 - 22.00
Digital Wall Tile	300x600	USD 3.50 - 5.50

 

These are indicative FOB ranges for reference. Actual prices depend on design complexity, surface treatment, order volume, and market conditions at the time of enquiry. Request a formal quotation with your specific requirements.

Incoterms Explained for Tile Imports

• FOB (Free On Board): Factory loads goods on the vessel at the Indian port. Buyer handles ocean freight, insurance, and destination customs. Most common for experienced importers.
• CFR (Cost and Freight): Seller pays ocean freight to the destination port. Buyer handles insurance and customs clearance.
• CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight): Seller covers freight and insurance. Buyer handles customs and delivery from port.
• EXW (Ex Works): Buyer collects from the factory gate. Buyer bears all costs. Least common for tile imports due to inland logistics complexity.

 

For first-time imports, CIF is the lowest-risk option. It limits your responsibility to customs clearance in your country. As volume grows and you establish a freight agent, moving to FOB typically saves 8-15% on overall landed cost.

Minimum Order Quantities

Most Morbi factories set MOQ at one 20-foot container for export orders. A standard 20-foot container holds approximately 1,800 to 2,200 square metres depending on tile size and packaging thickness. Some manufacturers accommodate smaller LCL (Less-than-Container Load) orders for new buyers, though per-unit pricing is higher.

Container Type

Approx. Capacity (sq m)