What is made in Morbi
Morbi's factories press, glaze, print and fire tiles in long roller kilns, then sort them on a line into grade, shade and calibre. Sanitaryware is slip-cast, dried, glazed and fired. IANS put the cluster at an estimated 1,200 manufacturing units (16 February 2026). The Gujarat Industries Commissionerate lists a ceramics cluster at Morbi (spelled Morvi) and Thangadh.
| Product | What it is | Key inspection points |
|---|---|---|
| Vitrified and porcelain tiles, slabs | Group BIa body, water absorption 0.5% or less; GVT, PGVT, full-body, large slabs | One grade, shade and calibre per carton; size, squareness, warpage; polish and print faults; slab crates |
| Ceramic wall tiles | Group BIII body, absorption above 10% | Glaze defects, print banding across a series, set matching of décor pieces, corner breakage |
| Sanitaryware | Vitreous china WCs, basins, cisterns | Flush and trap-seal tests, fire cracks, glaze cover, fixing-hole positions |
US countervailing duty. The US Department of Commerce issued a countervailing duty order on ceramic tile from India on 16 June 2025 (case C-533-929). The rate follows the producer, so the inspector records the producing factory and checks carton marks against it. Ask your customs broker for the current deposit rate.
What we check on Morbi tiles and sanitaryware
| Product | Main checks |
|---|---|
| Vitrified and porcelain tiles | Shade and calibre codes against the sample, size and squareness on rectified edges, warpage, polished-surface stains and scratches, crate condition for slabs |
| Ceramic wall tiles | Pinholes, crawling and colour spots, digital-print banding, décor and border matching, carton corners |
| Sanitaryware | Factory flush test witnessed, trap seal, rim and foot flatness, fixing holes against the template, glaze in bowl and trapway, cistern fittings |
Tiles are sampled by carton under ISO 2859-1, with a set number of tiles checked from each sampled carton; see AQL sampling explained. Water absorption, breaking strength, slip resistance and crazing are lab tests; we seal samples through lab testing coordination. CE marking for the EU and UKCA for Great Britain are covered on our UKCA and CE marking page, and Gulf rules on SASO and SABER. The ceramics, glassware and tiles hub covers the rest of the category.
Common defects in Morbi production
| Defect | Where it shows | Class |
|---|---|---|
| Fire crack in the trapway or under the rim | Sanitaryware; often hidden until a water or tap test | Critical |
| Mixed shade or calibre in one carton or pallet | All tiles; visible only once laid | Major |
| Warpage or edge straightness beyond the tolerance | Large-format tiles and slabs | Major |
| Chipped rectified edges or corners | Tiles packed too loosely | Major |
| Flush fails to clear the bulk load | WC pans | Major |
| Glaze pinholes or print banding visible at standing distance | Wall tiles, GVT | Major |
| Faint polish marks seen only at an angle; carton print errors | Polished tiles; outer cartons | Minor |
Timing and logistics
- Inspect on the sorting line or in the warehouse: tiles are already graded and boxed when they leave the line, so the final inspection opens sampled cartons from stock that is ready to ship.
- Weight, not volume: tiles fill a container's weight limit long before its space. Container loading supervision checks pallet count, stacking, strapping, corner protection and seals.
- Crates and pallets: wooden crates and pallets need ISPM 15 treatment and marks; see ISPM 15.
- Port loading: if containers are checked at the port rather than the factory, see our Mundra page for what a port-side check can and cannot do.
How to book an inspection in Morbi
Send the series and sizes, the factory's address and the ready date through the booking form for Morbi. Include the approved shade sample, the number of shade and calibre lots you accept, and for sanitaryware the fitting template and flush requirement.
An inspection costs US$249 per man-day. Morbi is outside our inspector base cities, so travel is charged at actual cost, quoted before you book; see pricing. The report arrives within 24 hours of the inspection, with a verdict of Cleared to load, Hold or Not cleared.
Sources
- IANS: Gujarat's Morbi anchors India's rise in global ceramics market (16 Feb 2026, state government figures)
- DGFT: Appendix 1B, Towns of Export Excellence (Morbi: ceramic tiles and sanitaryware)
- Federal Register: Ceramic tile from India, countervailing duty order (16 June 2025)
- Industries Commissionerate, Government of Gujarat: cluster development (last updated 12 Jul 2019)
- ISO 13006:2018, Ceramic tiles: definitions, classification, characteristics and marking
Are you a quality inspector in Morbi?
We work with vetted freelance inspectors near the factories we check. You take assignments in your own area, inspect to our checklist, and Clear To Load pays you, never the factory. Apply to inspect with us.