Blog & Import Guides

Practical, experience-based guides to sourcing building materials from China — written by a 19-year industry insider.

How to Import Porcelain Tiles from China in 2026 — A Buyer's Guide

The complete step-by-step: choosing factories, avoiding quality traps, QC, consolidation and landed cost.

Read guide →

How to Verify a Tile Supplier in China: 10-Point Checklist Before You Pay

Before you release a deposit: separate real Foshan factories from trading companies, spot scams, and verify licenses, video tours and ISO 10545 reports.

Read checklist →

Tile Quality Inspection Before Shipment from China: A Buyer's Checklist

Pre-shipment QC checklist for tile importers: shade variation, warpage, size deviation, water absorption, packaging and loading checks.

Read checklist →

The Real Cost of Importing Tiles from China: FOB Charges & Volatile Freight (2026)

FOB charges from Guangdong factory to port, 20GP vs 40GP freight (rates change weekly), duties, inland transport — plus the hidden costs most buyers miss.

Read breakdown →

Porcelain vs Ceramic Tiles: Which to Import from China

Water absorption, strength, PEI rating and best uses — a buyer's guide to choosing the right tile from Foshan.

Read article →

Sintered Stone & Big Slab (岩板): The Importer's Buying Guide

One product, two names. Sizes, uses from flooring to thermoformed basins, and the real quality test — processability & fabrication breakage rate.

Read guide →

EU Anti-Dumping on Chinese Tiles: How to Cut Your Duty from 69.7% to 13.9%

Under EU Regulation 2024/493, different factories carry different AD rates — from 13.9% to 69.7%. Learn how to source from cooperating factories and save 5× on duty.

Read report →

UK 8A58 Exemption: Why Large-Format Chinese Tiles Are Duty-Free After Brexit

Under TRA Notice 2024/10, tiles larger than 0.36m² or with any side >600mm enter the UK at 0% anti-dumping duty under code 8A58. Check which sizes qualify.

Read report →

GCC Anti-Dumping on Chinese Tiles: How to Cut Your Duty from 76% to 23.5%

GCC-TSAIP renewed duties for 5 more years. Six Gulf countries are affected. Source from 23.5% cooperating factories instead of the 76% default — save $7,875/container.

Read report →

Morocco 2030 World Cup: Why Now Is the Time to Source Chinese Tiles

Zero anti-dumping + India under investigation + $200B World Cup infrastructure. The supplier qualification window for Morocco 2030 is open — here's how to get in.

Read report →

SPC Flooring vs Ceramic Tiles in the EU: Why SPC (HS 3918.10) Avoids the 13.9%–69.7% Tile Duty

EU ceramic tile AD hits 13.9%–69.7%, but SPC flooring (HS 3918.10, vinyl) is exempt. See how EU importers cut duty by switching flooring volume to China SPC.

Read report →

More guides coming: How to Import from Foshan (Step by Step), Tile Quality Inspection Checklist, Container Consolidation Guide, and country market reports.