To import porcelain slabs from India, confirm the factory can make large formats consistently, approve a production sample, agree A-frame packing in writing, and plan unloading and installation before the container sails. Slabs are the most fragile tile product to ship, so the steps around handling matter more than for ordinary tiles.
Not every Morbi plant can press and fire slabs. Start with the sizes in porcelain slab sizes and then find a plant that makes them in-house.
Step 1: Choose size, thickness and finish
Slabs come in large sizes and several thicknesses, and each combination changes weight, breakage risk and what the slab can be used for. A thin slab suits wall cladding, while a thicker one may be needed for floors or worktops. Decide the end use first, then fix the size and thickness. Surface finish and flatness tolerance should be written into the specification.
Step 2: Find a plant that can actually make slabs
Large formats need heavy presses and long kilns, so only some plants have the capability. Ask to see slabs being pressed and fired on a live video call, and ask for flatness and breakage results from recent production. Our guide to finding a Morbi factory that can make large slabs lists the checks.
Step 3: Approve samples and agree the specification
Samples should be full slabs from current production, not small cut pieces. Check flatness, edge squareness, pattern consistency across slabs and any matching you need, such as book-match. Then write the specification, including grade, tolerances and the testing you require.
Step 4: Agree packing and loading
Slabs travel upright on frames, not flat on pallets. The usual method is the A-frame, which holds bundles of slabs at an angle on a rigid base. See A-frame shipping for porcelain slabs and how large slabs are packed.
Container count depends on size, thickness and frame type. The numbers are in how many slabs fit in a container. Ask the factory for a written loading plan that shows frames, bundles and bracing.
Step 5: Inspect before loading
Inspect slabs when they are packed and again during loading. Look at corners and edges, surface flatness, shade and pattern. Record the loading with photographs and note the lashing and bracing used.
Without this record, a damage claim later becomes difficult. The guide on slab breakage risk in shipping explains where damage usually happens.
Step 6: Plan arrival, handling and installation
Plan for a forklift or crane with the right attachments, and for unloading on a firm, level surface. Slabs should stay upright on their frames until they are needed. Unloading and handling slabs sets out the method.
Your customer or installer also needs guidance on cutting, adhesive and movement joints. Slabs behave differently from standard tiles, so supply the factory's installation notes.
What do slabs add to the risk list?
Slabs carry a higher chance of loss than ordinary tiles, so treat insurance and acceptance terms as part of the plan. Agree in writing how breakage in transit is handled, what photographic evidence the claim needs, and who bears the cost of replacement. A short lead time for a replacement lot is worth asking for, because a single broken frame can leave a project short of its design.
Next step
We audit slab factories, check samples and documents, have lots tested, and supervise production and loading. To plan a first slab order, book a free sourcing review.