Importing tiles from Iran is simpler when the buyer knows which questions the factory will ask back. This guide follows the order of a typical first enquiry — why Iran, size and body, design, the datasheet, quantities, freight and documents — and links to the pages with the detail for each step.
Why source tiles from Iran
Iran is one of the larger tile-producing countries, and Yazd province, where our works stands, is the centre of its ceramic industry. Iranian tiles — known in Pakistan simply as Irani tiles — combine modern pressing and digital glaze printing with raw materials and energy available close to the factories. For importers that means competitive factory prices, a wide choice of designs from one region, and short overland routes to Iraq, the Caucasus, Central Asia and Russia.
Choosing a size and body
Start from the room, not the catalogue. Floor areas with heavy traffic and wet areas call for a dense body; glazed walls rarely need one. Porcelain tiles have the densest body and the lowest water absorption; white body tiles keep glaze colours true and are used mostly on walls; red body tiles are the cost-effective choice for residential floors.
The 60x60 format remains the most traded size, while 60x120 and 100x100 large formats reduce joints in open spaces. 40x40 floor tiles and 30x60 wall tiles cover the budget end of most projects. Thickness matters as well: in Iraq, for example, buyers increasingly ask for thicker 60x60 and 40x40 floor tiles, so compare thickness on the datasheet before comparing prices. Use the table to turn square metres into pieces:
| Size | Pieces per m²Pcs / m² | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 30×60 cm | 5.56 | Ceramic wall tiles |
| 40×40 cm | 6.25 | Ceramic floor tiles |
| 60×60 cm | 2.78 | Porcelain and white body, floor and wall |
| 40×120 cm | 2.08 | Large-format ceramic wall tiles |
| 80×80 cm | 1.56 | Porcelain floor tiles |
| 60×120 cm | 1.39 | Large-format porcelain |
| 100×100 cm | 1.00 | Large-format porcelain |
Choosing a design
The main design families are marble look tiles, stone look tiles, wood look tiles and concrete look tiles, alongside solid colour and abstract ranges. Digital printing lets one design run across several faces so that a large floor does not visibly repeat; the number of faces is stated per model. Matt finishes suit floors and wet areas, while glossy and satin finishes are used on walls and in showrooms.
Reading a technical datasheet
Every model ships with a datasheet. Before asking for prices, check that these figures match the project:
- Body and thickness
- Water absorption group
- Finish: matt, satin, glossy or structured
- Size and rectification
- Pieces and square metres per carton, and carton weight
Minimum order and mixed loads
MOQ is set per model and destination and appears on the quotation. Several designs in one size can share a container once each reaches its own minimum, which lets a distributor test a range without taking a full load of every code. Mixed loading is confirmed before the proforma invoice is issued. Road loads for neighbouring markets are planned by truck and sea freight by container, so the quotation states the quantity that fills the chosen transport.
Shipping routes and terms
Loads for Iraq travel overland through seven border crossings. Russia is served by sea from Bandar Anzali to Makhachkala and Astrakhan, by rail and by road. Azerbaijan is reached by road through Astara, and Georgia overland through Azerbaijan. Buyers in the Gulf, Turkey, Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia are supplied by road and by sea through Bandar Abbas. Quotations are given FOB or CIF where the route supports it.
From enquiry to loading
- Send sizes or models, square metres and destination.
- Receive a quotation with price, packing, MOQ and loading date.
- Approve samples of the shortlisted codes.
- Confirm the order and payment terms.
- The works produces, packs and loads the order.
Documents and samples
Commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading travel with every load, together with the technical datasheet of each model. Any additional certificate a market requires is confirmed case by case before shipment. Before a first order, buyers usually compare the datasheet against their own market's standards and approve a sample box; repeat orders of the same code can then be placed against the datasheet alone. Sample boxes of shortlisted codes are sent on request; see the buyer FAQ for details, or request a quote with your sizes and quantities.
