For most sanitaryware factories in Morbi and Thangadh, the practical minimum order is one full container, usually a 40 ft. Within that container, many factories will mix several models, as long as each model and colour meets its own minimum.
The exact figures vary by factory, by product and by whether the model is a standard white item or something made only for you. Treat any number you hear as a starting point for negotiation, not a fixed rule.
Why the container is the unit
Sanitaryware is bulky and light for its size. A WC in its carton takes up a lot of space but weighs far less than a box of tiles of the same volume. So a sanitaryware container fills by volume, not by weight, which is the opposite of a tile container.
A part-filled container still costs the full freight. That is why factories and buyers both think in whole containers. How many pieces fit depends on carton sizes, and our guide on how many WCs fit in a 40 ft container explains the method.
Some smaller buyers start with a 20 ft container. Factories may accept this, but the freight cost per piece rises, and some plants will only agree for stock models.
Minimums inside the container
Most factories set a minimum per model so that each casting run is worth setting up. The minimum usually depends on these points:
- Standard white models in regular production carry the lowest minimums, because the factory casts them every week anyway.
- Coloured or matt glazes need a separate glazing run, so the minimum per colour is higher.
- A model made only for you, from new moulds, needs a much larger commitment, often spread over several orders.
- Private-label marking adds a minimum for the printed decal and for branded cartons.
- Fittings such as flush valves and seat covers are bought in from suppliers, who set their own minimums.
Branding raises the minimum
If you want your own brand on the product, read private label sanitaryware before you ask for quotes. Branding often changes the minimum more than the product itself does.
Mixing products in one container
A typical first order mixes one-piece WCs, two-piece WCs, wall-hung WCs and a few basin types. This lets you test the market without holding too much stock of one model. Our overview of sanitaryware products from Gujarat shows what a single factory can usually supply.
Be careful with the mix. Each extra model adds packing sizes, spare parts and paperwork. A container with twenty models at small quantities is harder to load safely and harder to inspect. A tighter range of six to ten models is easier to control on a first order.
Buying below the minimum
Traders sometimes offer smaller lots or consolidated loads from several factories. This can work for a trial, but you lose control of which plant made the goods, and the warranty chain becomes unclear. If you go this way, insist on knowing the manufacturer and get the test reports in its name.
A better route for a small buyer is often to accept a standard white range for the first container, then add colours and branding once sales prove the models.
Next step
We can ask several audited factories for their real minimums on your exact range and show you how a mixed container would be built. To start, book a free sourcing review.