Ceramic & Porcelain Tiles from China – buyer’s guide

What Foshan actually produces

Most tiles sold as “Foshan tiles” are made in Nanzhuang (Chancheng district), Sanshui, Gaoming and increasingly in Qingyuan and Zhaoqing, where the big kilns moved after 2018. The showrooms are in Foshan; the factories are 30–90 minutes away. Main product families:

• Glazed polished porcelain (抛釉砖) – 600×600, 800×800, 600×1200. The bulk of villa and apartment orders.
• Full-body / through-body porcelain (通体砖) – colour runs through the tile; better for heavy-traffic floors and edge-chipping tolerance.
• Large-format slabs (岩板) – 900×1800, 1200×2400, 1600×3200 in 6, 9, 12 and 15 mm. Used for walls, countertops and furniture.
• Matt / anti-slip porcelain – R10–R11 finishes for bathrooms, terraces and commercial floors.
• 20 mm outdoor pavers – for terraces and pool surrounds, laid on pedestals or gravel.
• Wood-look and marble-look planks, subway tiles, terrazzo-look, mosaics and swimming-pool tiles.

Grades: what AAA, first choice and “premium” mean

Chinese factories sort tiles into 优等品 (first choice / AAA), 一级品 (second grade) and 合格品 (third grade). The grade is printed on the carton. Differences are cosmetic and dimensional: first-choice tiles have tighter calibre, no visible pinholes or glaze defects at 1 m viewing distance, and consistent shade within a batch. Second grade is often 15–25% cheaper and acceptable for garages, utility rooms and rental units – but the cartons must say so, and you must know what you are paying for.

Two things matter more than the grade label: shade (色号) and calibre (尺码). Ask for all boxes from one shade and calibre batch, and have the batch number written on the pro-forma. For large orders we insist on a sealed reference tile kept by us and by the factory.

Price ranges (ex-works, 2026)

Showroom pricing and factory pricing are set differently, and the gap varies by product, grade and volume. Identifying the manufacturer behind a tile and buying at factory level is where an agent earns their fee.

MOQ and stock

Big brands run stock in popular designs, so a mixed container with 8–15 designs at 100–400 m² each is normal for a villa. Made-to-order (custom size, special glaze, private label) starts around 1,000–3,000 m² per design depending on the kiln. Slabs are usually stocked in the most common marble looks; special designs need a full kiln run.

Packing, weight and container loading

Porcelain is heavy: 800×800 at 10 mm is about 22–24 kg/m². A 20ft container carries roughly 20–24 tonnes (about 900–1,100 m² of 800×800), a 40ft is limited by road weight rather than volume in most countries – around 26–28 tonnes. Cartons are strapped on wooden pallets; for LCL or mixed loads we require corner protectors and shrink wrap. Breakage under 2% is normal and covered by ordering 5–8% extra.

Where to see tiles in Foshan

Start at China Ceramics City (中国陶瓷城) and Huaxia Ceramics Expo City (华夏陶瓷博览城) in Nanzhuang, then Cihai International for slabs. One day is enough to compare 30 brands. The second day should be a factory visit – we choose the factory according to what you shortlisted. Details in the market guide.

Before you sign the pro-forma

• Grade (优等品), shade and calibre batch numbers written on the pro-forma
• Exact size in mm, thickness, finish (polished / matt / anti-slip with R value) and rectified or not
• Water absorption (≤0.5% for porcelain) and test report if required by your customs
• Quantity in m² plus 5–8% extra for cuts and breakage
• Palletised export packing with corner protection; photos of loading
• Payment: 30% deposit, 70% after our inspection and before loading

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