India’s ceramics ecosystem spans high-volume stoneware dinnerware to heritage terracotta and blue-pottery décor. You get ODM speed with studio-level craft—glaze-matched, lead-safe, retail-ready.

• Core clusters: Khurja (UP), Jaipur/Molela (Rajasthan), Kutch/Morbi/Thangadh (Gujarat), Bankura (WB), Auroville/Puducherry, Andretta (HP), Longpi (Manipur)
  
• Typical lead time: Samples 1–3 weeks • Production 5–8 weeks (add 1–2 weeks for reactive/decals)
  
• Typical MOQ: 300–1,000 units/SKU/colour (craft clusters can start 150–300)
  
• Nearest ports: Mundra, Nhava Sheva, Chennai/Tuticorin, Kolkata/Haldia
  

What we make (OEM/ODM)

Table & Drinkware – plates, bowls, ramen/pasta bowls, mugs, tea/coffee sets, jugs
Serveware & Bakeware – platters, tapas trays, casseroles, gratin dishes (stoneware)
Planters & Garden – terracotta and glazed planters, cachepots, hanging planters, saucers
Home Décor – vases, candle holders, incense holders, lamp bases, wall tiles (artisanal)
Architectural Ceramics – handmade tiles, relief plaques (Molela), façade terracotta (Bankura)
Signature crafts – Jaipur Blue Pottery (lead-safe options), Nizamabad black pottery, Longpi stoneware-look

Materials & finishes

• Bodies: Earthenware (porous, warm), Stoneware (vitrified, durable), select Porcelain (boutique studios)
  
• Firing: Biscuit 900–1050 °C → Glaze 1100–1220 °C → Decal 780–830 °C (if used)
  
• Glazes: Matte/satin/gloss • Reactive/speckled/crystalline • Transparent/opaque • Food-contact safe zones
  
• Decor: Transfer decals (full/spot), hand-paint, carving/sgraffito, emboss/deboss, stamped base marks
  
• Colours: Pantone/RAL matching (note: reactive glazes yield controlled variation)
  

Cluster strengths

• Khurja, UP: Large-scale stoneware & earthenware, decal printing, dishwasher/microwave-safe glazes, price-competitive tableware.
  
• Jaipur, Rajasthan: Blue-pottery décor & tiles, giftable sets, boutique colour palettes; Molela relief plaques for wall art.
  
• Kutch/Thangadh/Morbi, Gujarat: Terracotta décor and planters, ceramic accessories; Morbi adds tile know-how for handmade/arty tile lines.
  
• Bankura, West Bengal: Iconic terracotta (horses, planters, architectural details), earthy textures.
  
• Auroville/Puducherry & Andretta (HP): Studio ceramics for premium dinnerware, small runs, glaze innovation.
  
• Longpi (Manipur): Stone-look cookware/decor (non-glazed, burnished), artisanal, giftable.
  

Quality & compliance (how we de-risk)

• Food contact: Lead/Cadmium migration testing (EU LFGB / US FDA methods) on all contact areas.
  
• Functional checks: Microwave/dishwasher/oven claims validated; thermal-shock & water-absorption (≤ 0.5–3% as spec’d).
  
• Visual AQL: ANSI/ASQ Z1.4 (common: General II, 2.5/4.0).
  
• Typical defects to screen: Crazing, pinholes, warpage, glaze crawling, shade variation beyond tolerance, decal mis-register.
  
• Transit-ready packs: ISTA 1A/2A (retail) or 3A (e-comm) drop tests with corner/edge protection, crush-rated cartons.
  

Packaging & branding

• Retail: Printed mono/gift boxes, belly bands, foam/pulp trays, care cards, barcode/UPC, inner poly with vent holes.
  
• E-commerce: Mailer-safe packaging with inserts, 5- or 7-layer cartons, fragility icons, humidity-safe coating.
  
• Branding: Base deboss/stamp, decal logo, custom colourways, seasonal stories.
  

Sustainability options

• Lead-safe/lead-free glaze systems • water recycling in glaze booths • gas-fired/solar-assisted kilns • recycled paper pulp trays • minimalist, plastic-light packaging.
  

Pricing drivers

Body (stoneware > earthenware) • firing schedule & yield • glaze type (reactive adds yield loss) • decal coverage/colours • size/weight (shipping!) • packaging spec • test scope (LFGB/FDA/ISTA).
(Ask for a dual-quote: standard glaze vs reactive; retail box vs e-comm pack.)

Spec templates

Use-case: Food-contact dinnerware

Body: Stoneware (vitrified) | Colour: Warm white speckle, matte

Set: 12-pc (4x 10.5″ plates, 4x 8″ plates, 4x 6″ bowls)

Claims: Dishwasher + Microwave safe

Finish: Reactive matte; variation allowed ΔE ≤ 2.0

Branding: Stamped base mark

Packaging: Retail gift box + shipper; ISTA 2A

Tests: LFGB (lead/cadmium) + ISTA 2A

Qty: 1,000 sets | Target EXW: $— | Timeline: 7 weeks

Port: Nhava Sheva / Mundra

Use-case: Planter line

Body: Terracotta, sealed inside; sizes 6″/8″/10″

Finish: Natural + white wash; optional saucer

Branding: Deboss logo on base

Packaging: E-comm mailer-safe | ISTA 3A

Qty per size/colour: 300–500 | Timeline: 5–6 weeks

Sample product blueprints (ready to brief)

• “Nordic Speckle” Stoneware Dinner Set
  12-pc, matte reactive, subtle speckle, dishwasher/microwave-safe; MOQ 500 sets, production 6–7 weeks.
  
• “Earthform” Terracotta Planters
  8″ & 10″ with clear sealant; natural + white-wash; deboss logo; MOQ 300/size, 4–5 weeks.
  
• “Indigo Tile” Giftables
  Jaipur blue-pottery coasters (set of 4) + trinket tray; lead-safe formulations; tuck-box with story card; MOQ 800 sets.
  

Common pitfalls & our guard-rails

• Glaze shade drift across lots → locked test tiles + ΔE tolerance in PO; reference retains with factory & IndiaUnbox.
  
• Crazing after dishwasher cycles → body/glaze fit test at sampling; accelerated dishwasher cycles before PO.
  
• Breakage in parcel networks → e-comm packaging engineering and pre-PO ISTA drop test.
  
• Decal mis-registration → print-to-firing shrinkage calibrated during PP sample; camera jig for placement.
  

Mini case snapshot

A European D2C brand shifted from resin to terracotta planters via Kutch + Khurja. With e-comm-safe packs and a natural + colour-dipped palette, return rate fell 22%, average order value rose with tiered sizing, and the line expanded to dinnerware in matching glazes the next season.

Documentation & codes

• HS codes (typical): 6912 (ceramic table/kitchenware, non-porcelain), 6911 (porcelain/china), 6913 (ornamental articles incl. planters), 6907 (ceramic tiles).
  
• Marks: outer cartons with item code, colour, lot, MRP (if India), country of origin; inner labels with care icons.
  
• Certificates: LFGB/FDA test reports (by colour), food-safe declaration, material composition, MSDS for glazes when required.
  

Buyer FAQs

Can I mix colours to hit MOQ?
Yes—factories often allow colour splits per shape; glazes with very different firings may need separate lots.
Are reactive glazes food-safe?
Reactive ≠ unsafe. We test each contact colour/finish for your markets and keep retains.
Porcelain in India?
Limited but available via boutique studios; stoneware covers most durability/price needs.
Microwave/oven claims?
Only if the body and glaze are fit-tested; we validate during PP sample.

IndiaUnbox advantage (what we actually do for you)

• Design-to-Spec RFQs: we translate your moodboard into glaze chips, body choice, and tolerances factories understand.
  
• Verified cluster routing: the right hub for each brief (e.g., reactive stoneware → Khurja; artisanal plaques → Molela).
  
• Glaze-match sprint: lab chips + fired test tiles to lock colour early.
  
• Live QC: AQL inspections with photo/video feed; reference retains stored for reorders.
  
• Pack engineering: ISTA-ready packaging library for retail & e-comm.
  
• Door-to-door: freight + export docs with clean carton and pallet specs.
  

Ready to brief?

• RFQ (Dinnerware): /rfq?cluster=ceramics&product=dinnerware
  
• RFQ (Planters): /rfq?cluster=ceramics&product=planters
  
• RFQ (Decor/Gift): /rfq?cluster=ceramics&product=decor
  

RFQ (Tiles/Wall Art): /rfq?cluster=ceramics&product=tiles