Sanitary Ware & Bathroom from China – buyer’s guide

Product families and what to look for

• Toilets – one-piece siphonic (quiet, common in the Americas and Middle East), two-piece washdown (Europe, UK), wall-hung with concealed cistern, and smart toilets with bidet function. Ask for the flush volume (3/4.5 L dual flush is standard), rough-in (305 mm “12 inch”, 400 mm, or P-trap 180 mm) and the glaze on the trapway.
• Basins – counter-top, under-counter, pedestal, semi-recessed and integrated vanity tops. Check the overflow, tap-hole spacing and the glaze thickness on the inside.
• Faucets and showers – brass body (H59 grade) with ceramic cartridge is the standard for export; zinc alloy bodies are 40–60% cheaper but corrode. Finishes: chrome, brushed nickel, gunmetal, brushed gold PVD.
• Bathtubs – acrylic (cheap and light), solid surface (premium, matte), cast iron (heavy, small production).
• Accessories – towel rails, hooks, paper holders in stainless 304 or brass.

Ceramic quality and certifications

Good sanitary ware is fired once at ~1200 °C from vitreous china; the glaze should be even inside the trapway, not just on visible surfaces. Check the water absorption (≤0.5%) and the bowl for pinholes and cracks around the mounting holes. Many Foshan factories hold CE, WaterMark (Australia), CUPC (USA/Canada) or SASO approvals for specific models – if your market requires a mark, buy the model that carries it rather than asking the factory to “add” it.

Price ranges (ex-works, 2026)

MOQ and mixing models

Stock models can be bought in dozens; factories with a large domestic brand keep hundreds of pieces of their best sellers. For a hotel or apartment project you will be asked for 200–500 pieces per model for OEM colours or logos. Faucet factories in Kaiping accept 50–100 pieces per finish for standard bodies.

Packing and shipping

Ceramics are shipped in 5-layer cartons with EPS or moulded pulp inserts; a one-piece toilet is 0.12–0.16 m³ and 35–50 kg. Expect 1–2% breakage on well-packed goods and ask for 2–3% spare seats and fittings. Faucets and showers are light and fill the top of a container nicely. We normally consolidate bathroom goods with tiles from the same buyer.

Where to buy in Foshan

Showrooms in the Shiwan and Nanhai bathroom zones, plus the Yimeijia Bathroom & Ceramics World, cover ceramics and cabinets. For faucets we drive to Kaiping (about 1.5 hours) or work from samples. Read the market guide.

Before you sign the pro-forma

• Model numbers, colours and finishes with photos attached to the pro-forma
• Rough-in and trap type for every WC model; tap-hole size and count for basins
• Brass grade (H59) and cartridge brand for taps; PVD vs electroplated finish
• Required certification marks (CE / WaterMark / CUPC / SASO) by model
• Spare parts: seats, flush valves, aerators – 2–3% extra
• Inspection before balance payment: flush test on samples from each carton batch

Related guides: Tiles · Cabinets · Hardware