What the category includes

Hand-thrown and moulded earthenware/terracotta articles such as water pots (matka), surahis, cooking pots/tawas/tandoors, planters and decorative pieces; festival lamps (diyas) are a seasonal sub-segment. In HS terms these typically ship as:

• HS 6912 (Ceramic table/kitchenware, other than porcelain/China),
  
• HS 6913 (Ceramic statuettes & ornamental ware),
  
• HS 9405.50 (Non-electrical lamps & fittings – covers many diyas/lanterns).
  

Export snapshot (India)

• Ceramic table/kitchenware (HS 6912): India exported ~US$30.2 million in 2023; top buyers included the US, UK and Middle East markets.
  
• Ceramic ornamental ware (HS 6913): India exported ~US$13.3 million in 2023, led by the US, Kuwait, UAE, etc.
  
• Non-electrical lamps (HS 9405.50): Global trade is sizable but dominated by China/EU; India participates and is among notable exporters in recent rankings. (Useful when planning diya/lantern lines.)
  

Implication: buyers commonly position Hisar/Haryana earthenware as craft-led SKU ranges under HS 6912/6913, with festival/seasonal listings under 9405.50.

Quality, specs & compliance

Base material & performance

• Earthenware is porous, lower-fire ceramic; it must be glazed to be watertight (otherwise it “breathes”, which is desirable for matka/surahis).
  

Indian standards (BIS) for food-contact ceramicware

• IS 2857:2002 (Earthenware crockeryware) sets requirements and testing.
  
• IS 9806:2001 prescribes test methods & permissible limits for lead/cadmium release from ceramic food-contact surfaces (aligned to international norms).
  

Export market norms

• EU: Directive 84/500/EEC (as amended by 2005/31/EC) sets migration limits and requires testing per ISO 6486 methods.
  
• US: FDA guidance governs labeling and safety for traditional/lead-glazed pottery (including requirements to distinguish ornamental items from food-use ware).
  

Evidence on “matka/surahi” functionality

• Peer-reviewed work shows clay pot storage can improve water quality parameters, supporting the traditional use-case for unglazed vessels.
  

Why Hisar & Haryana

• 5,000-year pottery heritage in the district
  Hisar hosts Rakhigarhi, one of the largest Harappan civilization sites; excavations document rich red/grey ware pottery traditions in situ (multiple mounds, museum plan, and ongoing ASI work). This heritage strongly anchors craft storytelling and design language.
  
• Clay availability & workability
  Hisar lies on the Ghaggar–Yamuna alluvial plain; government and soil studies document alluvial clays (illite with significant smectite/vermiculite) in Ghaggar plains—minerology associated with good plasticity and forming properties for earthenware.
  
• Artisan base & cluster support
  The Office of DC (Handicrafts), Govt. of India lists a Hisar artisan cluster (300+ artisans; 20 SHGs) under its “Craft Clusters of India” program—useful for aggregation, training, design inputs and market access.
  
• State craft ecosystem
  Haryana promotes pottery/terracotta as a traditional craft (e.g., Hodal/Palwal terracotta references), giving a broader state-level vendor base for complements (planters, décor) alongside Hisar producers.
  
• Infrastructure & access
  The Integrated Manufacturing Cluster (IMC) at Hisar and tourism investments around Rakhigarhi improve logistics and footfall—useful for showrooming and buyer visits.
  

Typical specs for POs from this region

• Material: local alluvial clay body; for tableware specify lead/cadmium-safe glaze and IS 9806/ ISO 6486 test reports; for water pots specify unglazed interior (evaporative cooling) and potability statement.
  
• Firing: earthenware/terracotta (low-fire); absorbency >3% (expect some porosity).
  
• Food-contact compliance (export lots): BIS report (IS 2857 + IS 9806) + EU 84/500/EEC or US FDA evidence as per destination.
  
• HS codes: 6912, 6913, and 9405.50 (for diyas/lanterns)
  

Sourcing/positioning angles that work

• “Harappan-inspired” forms & motifs tied to Rakhigarhi—museum-backed storytelling for mid-/premium décor lines.
  
• Functional earthenware (matka/surahi/planters) stressing sustainability & micro-cooling benefits, with modern finishes for international retail.
  
• Cluster aggregation (Hisar + nearby terracotta clusters in Haryana) for MOQs without losing handmade character.