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Export sanitaryware

Vitreous china WCs and basins from Thangadh and Morbi; Africa, the Gulf, the USA and Nepal buy.

Free to exportHS 6910
HS code
6910
Ceramic sinks, wash basins, pedestals, baths, bidets, WC pans, flushing cisterns, urinals and similar fixtures.
Export policy
Free to export
Free to export under ITC(HS) Schedule 2 (no condition listed). Confirm the current entry on the DGFT ITC(HS) search before you sign a contract.
Registrations
3
IEC, GST and those below
India’s exports, 2025-26
US$ 178 mn
to 144 countries

What is exported

Most Indian sanitaryware is made in Gujarat (Thangadh and Morbi): one-piece and two-piece WCs, wall-hung toilets, basins, pedestals and urinals. Buyers are building-material distributors, project contractors and private-label bathroom brands. In 2025-26 India exported about US$ 178 million under HS 6910; the USA, UAE, Nepal, Japan and Germany led, with large volumes to Tanzania, Saudi Arabia and West Africa.

Varieties, grades and forms

  • Water closetsOne-piece, two-piece, wall-hung and Indian-style pans with matching cisterns.
  • Wash basins and pedestalsWall-hung, counter-top, table-top and pedestal basins.
  • Urinals and commercial fixturesFor offices, malls and public projects.

Where it is grown or made

  • GujaratThangadh (Surendranagar) and Morbi — the main sanitaryware clusters
  • Gujarat and RajasthanLarge branded plants near Kadi, Halol and Bhiwadi

Export packing

  • Each piece in its own five-ply carton with moulded foam or thermocol corners; cisterns packed separately with fittings.
  • Cartons stacked by weight with heavy WCs at the bottom; fill gaps to stop movement.

Who buys abroad

  • Sanitaryware and building-material distributors
  • Project contractors and developers
  • Private-label bathroom brands
  • DIY and home-improvement chains

The quality buyers ask for

Material
Vitreous china with low water absorption (commonly 0.5% or less) and a crack-free glaze
Flush performance
Flush volume (for example 6/3 litres or 4.8/3 litres) and waste-removal tests to EN 997 or ASME A112.19.2
Outlet and rough-in
S-trap or P-trap, and rough-in distance (for example 300 mm in Europe, 12 inches in the USA)
Load bearing
Static load tests for wall-hung WCs and basins

Certificates

  • CE marking with DoP (EU)RequiredFor WC pans and urinals under harmonised EN standards and the Construction Products Regulation.
  • ASME/CSA certification (USA, Canada)RequiredListing by an accredited certifier is expected by buyers and plumbing codes.
  • WaterMark and WELS (Australia)RequiredMandatory for toilets and many plumbing products in Australia.
  • EPA WaterSense (USA)Often askedOptional label for high-efficiency toilets; many retailers prefer it.
  • SASO/SABER (Saudi Arabia)RequiredProduct conformity registration through the importer.

Shipping, storage and shelf life

Container load

Sanitaryware fills a container by volume; a 40-ft high-cube typically carries a few hundred WC sets, depending on models and carton sizes.

How it travels

Sea from Mundra or Pipavav (close to Thangadh and Morbi); road to Nepal.

Storage

Store cartons upright on pallets; do not stack beyond the carton's rating.

What goes on the pack and carton

  • Permanent mark on the product: maker or brand, model and, where required, certification marks (CE, WaterMark, etc.).
  • Australia: WELS star-rating label; EU: CE mark with DoP reference.
  • Carton marks: model, colour, quantity, weight and "Made in India".
Where to get it tested

CSIR-CGCRI has ceramic testing centres (including at Naroda and Khurja). For EN, ASME or WaterMark tests, use NABL-accredited labs or the certifier's own lab; CAPEXIL can guide members.

Benefits of exporting this product

Where to register

  • CAPEXILCeramics are listed under CAPEXIL in Appendix 2T; take your RCMC there.capexil.org ↗

Quality and checks

  • EU: WC pans and urinals with integral traps are construction products (EN 997, EN 13407) and need CE marking with a declaration of performance; basins are tested to EN 14688.
  • USA and Canada: ASME A112.19.2/CSA B45.1 certification is expected by buyers; many also ask for EPA WaterSense for low-flush toilets.
  • Australia: toilets need WaterMark certification and a WELS water-rating label.
  • Gulf: conformity registration (for example Saudi SABER) through the importer.
How to start small

Source from a Thangadh or Morbi factory that already exports, pick a short range (two-piece WC, wash basin with pedestal, urinal) and start with African or Gulf distributors, where certification demands are lighter than in the EU, USA or Australia. Ship a mixed container against advance or LC.

Where new exporters go wrong

  • Breakage from loose loading — every piece needs its own carton and the container must be packed tight.
  • Drain outlet and rough-in sizes that do not match local plumbing — confirm "S-trap" or "P-trap" and distances with the buyer.
  • Glaze defects and colour mismatch between WC and cistern — inspect before loading.

Documents this product needs

Schemes that apply

Sources (7)
  1. Department of Commerce, Export Import Data Bank — India's exports of HS 6910 by country, 2025-26
  2. DGFT — Appendix 2T: Export Promotion Councils and the products under each
  3. DGFT — ITC(HS) export policy search (Schedule 2)
  4. CAPEXIL — official site
  5. European Commission — Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
  6. Australian Building Codes Board — WaterMark Certification Scheme
  7. Australian Government — Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme

Trade data

Indian sanitaryware exports in numbers

From the Department of Commerce’s TradeStat, country by country. US$, Indian financial years (April–March).

Exports in 2025-26
US$ 178 mn
+4.8% a year on average, 2020-21 to 2025-26
Change from 2024-25
↑ +8.4%
US$ 164 mn → US$ 178 mn
Buyer countries
144
Average export price
US$ 0.61
per kg · 2,90,691 tonnes shipped · US$ 0.63 the year before
United States of America: US$ 15.2 mnUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 12.2 mnNepal: US$ 11.6 mnJapan: US$ 9.1 mnGermany: US$ 8.6 mnTanzania: US$ 8.3 mnSaudi Arabia: US$ 7.2 mnSenegal: US$ 6.6 mnSouth Africa: US$ 5.5 mnCôte d’Ivoire: US$ 5 mnKenya: US$ 4.8 mnSri Lanka: US$ 3 mnJordan: US$ 2.9 mnMozambique: US$ 2.7 mnTaiwan: US$ 2.6 mnChina: US$ 2.3 mnOman: US$ 2.1 mnYemen: US$ 2 mnPoland: US$ 1.9 mnBrazil: US$ 1.8 mnUnited States of America: US$ 15.2 mnUnited States of AmericaUnited Arab Emirates: US$ 12.2 mnUnited Arab EmiratesNepal: US$ 11.6 mnNepalJapan: US$ 9.1 mnJapanGermany: US$ 8.6 mnGermanyTanzania: US$ 8.3 mnTanzaniaSaudi Arabia: US$ 7.2 mnSenegal: US$ 6.6 mnSouth Africa: US$ 5.5 mnCôte d’Ivoire: US$ 5 mnKenya: US$ 4.8 mnSri Lanka: US$ 3 mnJordan: US$ 2.9 mnMozambique: US$ 2.7 mnTaiwan: US$ 2.6 mnChina: US$ 2.3 mnOman: US$ 2.1 mnYemen: US$ 2 mnPoland: US$ 1.9 mnBrazil: US$ 1.8 mnIndia
Where Indian sanitaryware goes — among our 80 countries, 2025-26
2020-21: US$ 141 mn1412020-212021-22: US$ 176 mn1762021-222022-23: US$ 161 mn1612022-232023-24: US$ 161 mn1612023-242024-25: US$ 164 mn1642024-252025-26: US$ 178 mn1782025-26
India’s sanitaryware exports, year by year · US$ million

The price cycle

India’s average export price per kg each year (total value ÷ total quantity). Highest in 2020-21, lowest in 2025-26 — a 24% swing between them. Keep this swing in mind when you quote.

2020-21: US$ 0.76 per kg0.762021-22: US$ 0.65 per kg2022-23: US$ 0.64 per kg2024-25: US$ 0.63 per kg2025-26: US$ 0.61 per kg0.612020-212021-222022-232023-242024-252025-26
Average export price of Indian sanitaryware · US$ per kg · dotted = year in between not available

What next: a projection from the trend

The past trend carried forward — not a forecast by any authority. Sudden changes in policy, prices or demand are not in it.

2020-21: US$ 141 mn2020-212021-22: US$ 176 mn2021-222022-23: US$ 161 mn2022-232023-24: US$ 161 mn2023-242024-25: US$ 164 mn2024-252025-26: US$ 178 mn2025-262026-27: US$ 180 mn (US$ 162 mn – US$ 199 mn)1802026-272027-28: US$ 184 mn (US$ 165 mn – US$ 207 mn)1842027-28
India’s sanitaryware exports and projection · hollow bars = projection, line = likely range
By 2027-28: US$ 184 mn

Likely range US$ 165 mn to US$ 207 mn.

Trend
+2.8% a year
Fit (R²)
0.37 — weak, read with care
Based on
6 years of official figures

Method: a straight line through the logarithm of yearly exports (log-linear regression); range = ±1 standard error.

Biggest buyer countries

By value in 2025-26. Change is against 2024-25.

Name2025-26Change
1United States of AmericaUS$ 15.2 mn-25.6%
2United Arab EmiratesUS$ 12.2 mn+8.5%
3NepalUS$ 11.6 mn+5.6%
4JapanUS$ 9.1 mn+83.6%
5GermanyUS$ 8.6 mn+11.6%
6TanzaniaUS$ 8.3 mn+28.7%
7Saudi ArabiaUS$ 7.2 mn-17.5%
8SenegalUS$ 6.6 mn+28.2%
9LibyaUS$ 5.5 mn-18.6%
10South AfricaUS$ 5.5 mn+14.4%
11Côte d’IvoireUS$ 5 mn+55.5%
12KenyaUS$ 4.8 mn-7%

Where demand is rising and falling

Only countries that buy at least US$ 1 million or 1% of India’s exports of this product. Change from 2024-25 to 2025-26.

High demand

  1. JapanUS$ 5 mn → US$ 9.1 mn+83.6%
  2. AngolaUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 2.5 mn+81.3%
  3. Sri LankaUS$ 1.7 mn → US$ 3 mn+80.4%
  4. Côte d’IvoireUS$ 3.2 mn → US$ 5 mn+55.5%
  5. TaiwanUS$ 1.8 mn → US$ 2.6 mn+43.5%
  6. GuineaUS$ 2.3 mn → US$ 3.3 mn+43%
  7. MozambiqueUS$ 1.9 mn → US$ 2.7 mn+39.7%
  8. BrazilUS$ 1.4 mn → US$ 1.8 mn+35.6%

Low demand

  1. IraqUS$ 2.9 mn → US$ 1.6 mn-44.6%
  2. United States of AmericaUS$ 20.4 mn → US$ 15.2 mn-25.6%
  3. LibyaUS$ 6.8 mn → US$ 5.5 mn-18.6%
  4. Saudi ArabiaUS$ 8.7 mn → US$ 7.2 mn-17.5%
  5. CameroonUS$ 3.5 mn → US$ 3.1 mn-11.9%
  6. NetherlandsUS$ 1.9 mn → US$ 1.6 mn-11.4%

Which forms sell, and at what price

India’s exports by 8-digit tariff line, 2025-26. Average price = total value ÷ total quantity (TradeStat): the average of every shipment on that line, not the price of any one deal.

Tariff lineValue 2025-26ChangeQuantityAverage price
Sanitary fixtures of porcelain/china6910 10 00 · Ceramic sinks, wash basins, wash basin pedestals, baths, bidets, water closet pans, flushing cisterns…US$ 153 mn+9.1%2,56,997 tonnesUS$ 0.60 per kgwas US$ 0.60
Other sanitary fixtures(excluding of porcelain)6910 90 00 · Ceramic sinks, wash basins, wash basin pedestals, baths, bidets, water closet pans, flushing cisterns…US$ 25 mn+4.7%33,694 tonnesUS$ 0.74 per kgwas US$ 0.81

The world market

Each country’s own recorded exports and imports in UN Comtrade, 2023 (the latest year nearly every country has reported).

World imports
US$ 6.51 bn
2023
India among exporters
#8
of 136 countries
India’s share of world exports
1.7%
US$ 165 mn
Left for others to win
US$ 9.75 bn
exported by other countries

Top exporters — your competitors

  1. 1ChinaUS$ 5.89 bn 59.4%
  2. 2MexicoUS$ 578 mn 5.8%
  3. 3GermanyUS$ 510 mn 5.1%
  4. 4TürkiyeUS$ 315 mn 3.2%
  5. 5ItalyUS$ 220 mn 2.2%
  6. 6PolandUS$ 218 mn 2.2%
  7. 7ThailandUS$ 181 mn 1.8%
  8. 8IndiaUS$ 165 mn 1.7%
  9. 9PortugalUS$ 164 mn 1.7%
  10. 10Viet NamUS$ 163 mn 1.6%

Biggest buyers in the world

  1. 1USAUS$ 1.46 bn 22.5%
  2. 2GermanyUS$ 424 mn 6.5%
  3. 3FranceUS$ 338 mn 5.2%
  4. 4United KingdomUS$ 284 mn 4.4%
  5. 5CanadaUS$ 224 mn 3.4%
  6. 6SpainUS$ 222 mn 3.4%
  7. 7ItalyUS$ 169 mn 2.6%
  8. 8AustraliaUS$ 127 mn 2%
  9. 9JapanUS$ 126 mn 1.9%
  10. 10PolandUS$ 119 mn 1.8%

Opportunity: what these countries buy from the world, and from India

Each country’s own recorded imports in UN Comtrade, latest year it has reported. The long light part of each bar is demand other countries are filling today.

United States of AmericaUS$ 1.73 bnIndia 1.3% · gap US$ 1.7 bn
GermanyUS$ 438 mnIndia 1.7% · gap US$ 431 mn
FranceUS$ 298 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 297 mn
United KingdomUS$ 284 mnIndia 0.3% · gap US$ 283 mn
CanadaUS$ 253 mnIndia 0.8% · gap US$ 251 mn
SpainUS$ 239 mnIndia 0.1% · gap US$ 239 mn
ItalyUS$ 178 mnIndia 0.9% · gap US$ 177 mn
NetherlandsUS$ 139 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 139 mn
South KoreaUS$ 133 mnIndia 0% · gap US$ 133 mn
AustraliaUS$ 127 mnIndia 0.7% · gap US$ 126 mn

TradeStat’s 2023-24 quantities are double-counted, so that year is left out of the price. Sources: TradeStat — Export Import Data Bank, Department of Commerce · UN Comtrade database (United Nations Statistics Division) · Figures taken 29 October 2026.

Step by step

How to export sanitaryware

China is the largest exporter of ceramic sanitaryware, followed by Mexico, Vietnam, Turkey, Thailand and several EU countries. India, mainly through the Gujarat cluster, has grown as a cost-competitive supplier for Africa, the Gulf, South Asia and increasingly the USA and Europe. Demand follows housing and hotel construction and replacement of old fittings with water-saving models. Strict product standards in the EU, North America and Australia limit who can sell there. Openings are in African and Gulf distribution, private-label supply for bathroom brands, and certified water-saving models for developed markets.

  1. 01Pick models for the market

    Match outlet type, rough-in and flush volume to local plumbing rules.

  2. 02Certify

    Get the certification the market needs (CE, ASME/CSA, WaterMark) before quoting.

  3. 03Register

    IEC, GST LUT and RCMC from CAPEXIL.

  4. 04Produce and inspect

    Check glaze, shape, flush and colour match; allow buyer inspection.

  5. 05Pack and load

    Individual cartons, tight stowage, heavy items at the bottom.

  6. 06Ship and claim

    File the shipping bill, claim RoDTEP (0.9%) and drawback (1.4%).

Meet buyers

Trade fairs

Questions

Questions about exporting sanitaryware

Which markets are easiest for a first shipment?
African and some Gulf and South Asian markets ask for fewer certifications than the EU, USA or Australia.
Is CE marking needed for wash basins?
WC pans and urinals with integral traps are covered by harmonised standards; check with your EU buyer which products need a DoP.
What is WaterMark?
Australia's mandatory certification for plumbing and drainage products, including toilets.
What incentives apply?
RoDTEP 0.9% and drawback 1.4% of FOB for HS 6910.
How do I cut breakage claims?
Use moulded foam, five-ply cartons, tight loading and photographs of the stuffed container.
Sources (9)
  1. CAPEXIL — official site
  2. European Commission — Construction Products Regulation (CPR)
  3. European Commission — CE marking
  4. Australian Building Codes Board — WaterMark Certification Scheme
  5. Australian Government — Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards (WELS) scheme
  6. CSIR-Central Glass and Ceramic Research Institute (CGCRI)
  7. NABL — search for accredited testing laboratories
  8. DGFT — Appendix 4R, RoDTEP schedule for DTA exports w.e.f. 10.10.2024 (Notification 32/2024-25); rates continued to 31.12.2026 by Notification 41/2026-27
  9. Gazette of India — Notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) dated 20.10.2023: All Industry Rates of duty drawback

Who buys Indian sanitaryware

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