Full transcript

How do commercial building projects source porcelain tile from China? Foshan is the world’s largest ceramic tile production base, and for hotels, schools, hospitals and apartment buildings we source complete tile packages — sometimes around 20 full containers for a single project.

Similar-looking tiles can differ several times over in price, because water absorption, hardness, slip resistance and production quality are not the same. FBM Sourcing manages the entire China procurement package for overseas construction projects: suitable market selection, order follow-up, tile quality inspection, reinforced wooden-pallet packing, professional container loading and shipping coordination.

Full transcript

Foshan, China is the world’s largest ceramic tile production base. It offers every major tile category with competitive quality and prices. Commercial projects can require around 20 full containers. Similar-looking tiles can vary several times in price. Water absorption, hardness, slip resistance, and production quality differ.

We select suitable markets, follow orders, inspect goods, and arrange shipping. Tiles are heavy and fragile, so we use reinforced wooden pallets and experienced loaders. In over ten years, we have received no tile-damage complaint. For projects with many product categories, we plan mixed loading across full containers. Tiles can be combined with other building materials while each container’s weight is balanced.

This meets shipping-line and destination limits while reducing freight costs.

Frequently asked questions

Why do similar-looking tiles differ so much in price?

Because water absorption, hardness, slip resistance and production consistency differ. Two tiles can look identical in a showroom and perform very differently in a hotel corridor, which is what we check before an order is placed.

How are tiles packed for ocean freight?

Reinforced wooden pallets with experienced loading teams. Tiles are heavy and fragile, so packing and loading method matter more than for almost any other category.

Can tiles be consolidated with other materials?

Yes. For projects involving many product categories we plan mixed-product loading across multiple full containers and balance each container’s weight to meet shipping-line and destination-country limits while reducing freight cost.

More on this product category

Browse every video we have published in this category: all tile and stone sourcing videos.

Read how we run this category on a commercial project: floor and wall covering sourcing from China.

Planning a project?

FBM Sourcing manages the entire China procurement package for overseas construction projects. For full-container projects, send us your drawings and BOQ: contact FBM Sourcing.