Clay roof tiles are usually stacked on edge in tight rows, strapped into bundles or onto pallets, and loaded so nothing can move. Because they are heavy, a container reaches its weight limit long before it is full to the roof.
Roof tiles are less protected than floor tiles. They often travel without individual cartons, so the way the stack is built and braced does most of the work.
Common packing methods
Makers in Morbi use a few methods. Ask which one your quote assumes, because it changes both breakage risk and how many tiles fit.
- Palletised: tiles stand on edge in rows on a wooden pallet, separated by cardboard or straw, then strapped and stretch-wrapped.
- Bundled: small stacks of tiles are strapped together, then loaded by hand into the container.
- Loose-loaded: tiles are stacked by hand directly in the container, tight against each other, with dunnage at the ends. This fits more tiles but makes unloading slower and harder.
- Boxed: glazed or premium tiles sometimes go in cartons, then on pallets, like floor tiles.
Pallets and weight
If tiles go on wooden pallets, most markets require ISPM 15 heat-treated or fumigated wood, marked with the stamp. Ask which treatment the factory uses and get the certificate with your documents.
Weight is the real limit. Like floor tiles, roof tiles fill a container by payload, which depends on the container, the shipping line and road rules at each end. The general rule is explained in why a tile container is never full. Ask the factory for a loading plan with the pieces per pallet, pallets per container and gross weight.
Keeping breakage down
- Ask for fittings such as ridge tiles to be packed separately in stronger bundles, because their curved shape breaks easily.
- Make sure stacks are tight. A gap of a few centimetres lets tiles rock and chip on rough roads.
- Brace the load at the doors and between pallet rows with timber or air bags.
- Agree a written breakage allowance and how it will be counted, before you pay.
- Ask for photos of each stage of loading and of the sealed container.
Port and transport
Most Morbi exports leave through Mundra or Deendayal (Kandla), a few hours away by road. The container is usually stuffed and sealed at the factory, then trucked to the port.
At destination, unloading matters as much as loading. Palletised tiles can come off with a forklift. Loose-loaded tiles need a team unloading by hand, which takes time and care. Plan this before the container arrives, and check the condition when the doors open, as described in what to check when a tile container is opened.
Documents
Clay roof tiles are usually classified under HS heading 6905 (roofing tiles, chimney pots and other ceramic constructional goods). Confirm the full tariff line with your customs broker. You will also need the normal export document set, explained in the document pack your broker will ask for.
Next step
We check packing before loading, count pieces against the packing list and supervise container stuffing. To plan a roofing tile shipment, book a free sourcing review.