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If you want to purchase china-made sanitary ware ( like water closets or wash basins) , you will definitely see many manufacturers or trading companies that are from Chaozhou. If you conduct a search online (like Alibaba, Made in China), or come visit the Canton fair, Kitchen & Bath China Show (Shanghai), you will meet countless Chaozhou suppliers.
Then maybe there are a few questions in your mind:
Why are so many toilets and ceramic bathroom wash basins produced in Chaozhou? Are there any other production bases in China? How does their quality and positioning compare? What kind of factory is suitable for me? Is it better to have a big factory or a small to medium size factory? Are they reliable? If I want to purchase sanitary ware products in Chaozhou, how can I find a good supplier?
In the following article we will answer your questions above one by one.
So, let’s go.
1. Why are so many toilets and ceramic washbasins manufactured in Chaozhou city?
On the one hand, Chaozhou has an abundance of mineral raw materials for toilets and washbasins. On the other hand, Chaozhou began producing ceramics in China as early as the Tang and Song dynasties (more than 1100 years ago), and they were exported all over the world. All of these products are manufactured in Chaozhou, which has a vast amount of experience producing ceramics.
Of course, besides the sanitary ware factories, there are many ceramic household products factories in Chaozhou. Because Chaozhou has been named “China’s ceramics capital,” regardless of whether it is ceramics sanitary, household ceramics, or art ceramics, its annual production volume is over 30% of the entire country, and sanitary ceramics make up more than 50% of the domestic ceramic sanitary sector. It holds the No.1 position on the Chinese domestic market. So, you will find a large number of toilet and ceramic washbasin suppliers from Chaozhou, whether it is on Alibaba or at the Canton Fair. This is not surprising to see.
If you purchase a toilet or bathroom basin in Chaozhou for the first time, maybe some suppliers claim that they are a big-scale manufacturer, employing many workers etc. Don’t believe everything your suppliers tell you about them, and don’t be lured by their beautiful photos or videos of the manufacturing plant if you haven’t visited their manufacturer.
For these years, Seletti Trading has traveled to Chaozhou to select reliable factories and purchase sanitary ware products for overseas projects and small, medium-sized enterprises. During this period, we visited hundreds of different types of factories and trading companies, from small to big scale. We know lots of tricks those suppliers are playing. Guess what? We would like to share some of these experiences with you to help you avoid the trap when you purchase sanitary ware from China.
2. What are the main ceramic sanitaryware production areas in China?
According to statistics of China customs from January to September 2022, China’s ceramic sanitary ware export and production bases Top 5 are Guangdong Province, Hebei Province, Fujian Province, Zhejiang Province, and Henan Province. These five sanitary ware production areas have their own advantages and different types of products.
Guangdong province production base area
The production base of Guangdong is currently the province with the most complete industrial chain, the most enterprises and the most famous brands. Guangdong’s entire bathroom industry accounts for at least 55% of the overall domestic market share. More than 10,000 enterprises are large-scale manufacturers of sanitary ware. Production area is mainly concentrated in the cities of Foshan, Chaozhou, Jiangmen and Zhongshan.
The main categories of production are ceramic sanitary ware, bathroom cabinets, leisure sanitaryware, faucets, valves, bathroom fittings, smart sanitary ware, toilet accessories, and so on. In Guangdong, nearly all sanitary products and integrated bathroom products can be found, with a high level of quality control among the top of these five production areas.
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Foshan production area
The main products produced in Foshan are bathroom furniture, faucets, bathroom accessories, shower rooms, ceramic sanitary ware, etc. The number of Foshan bathroom product manufacturers is no less than 3000. Here you can find more bathroom brands, among which the more representative brands are: Arrow sanitary ware, Faenza sanitary ware, Dongpeng ceramics, SSWW bathroom, CRW bathrooms, Eago sanitary ware, Suncoo and so on. Besides, some famous internal brands, such as Roca and Kohler, also manufacture OEM products in Foshan.
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Jiangmen production area
Jiangmen production areas are primarily located in Shuikou Town (Kaiping city) and Zhishan Town ( Heshan city). These two towns specialize in producing bathroom fitting & plumbing products, such as faucet, mixer, kitchen sink, shower set, valve, bathroom accessories and so on. The major enterprises are Huayi, CAE, CME, etc. Besides, the world famous brands American standard have OEM products in Jiangmen.
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Chaozhou production area
Chaozhou is the largest ceramic sanitary ware manufacturing center in China, with most of the factories located in Chaoan District (Guxiang Town, Fengtang Town, Dengtang Town) and Fengxi District, where Guxiang Town and Fengtang Town are known as “China’s first sanitary ceramics town” and “China’s important ceramic town”, respectively.
A local manufacturer claims that there are at least 20,000 sanitary ware factories in Chaozhou, both large and small. It is no exaggeration to say that in Guxiang, approximately two-thirds of the families work in the ceramic industry.
As a result of the huge production of ceramic sanitary ware in Chaozhou, mostly small and medium-sized manufacturers, with flexible production modes and affordable prices, Chaozhou has become the OEM distribution center for many domestic brands, and is also one of the most significant export locations for ceramic sanitary in China. Representative brands include Hegii, Monga, Oumer, Senchn.
Hebei province production base area
Tangshan, the main city of Hebei province, is also one of the most important ceramic production areas in northern China. Products include toilets, wash basins, bathtubs, bathroom accessories, etc., and they are mainly focused on middle-range quality. Their products are mostly exported or OEM products, so there are very few famous brands. Representative enterprises are Huida, Imex.
Fujian province production base area
The main production areas in Fujian are Xiamen, Fuzhou, Quanzhou, Nan’an, etc. The main product categories are: water tank fittings, bathroom cabinets, faucets, valves, etc. Representative brands are R&T, WDI, Jomoo, Joyou, and so on.
Zhejiang province production base area
The main production areas in Zhejiang are Hangzhou, Taizhou, Wenzhou, Ningbo, Shaoxing, Jiaxing, Jinhua, Zhoushan, Huzhou, etc. Their main product categories are leisure sanitary ware, plumbing sanitary ware, and bathroom accessories. Bathroom cabinets, bathtubs, shower sets, faucets, and valves. You can find suitable suppliers here. Zhejiang enterprises are mainly OEM, ODM and export very large volumes, so brand awareness may not be high. The representative brands are Hansen, Ballee, Cobbe.
Henan province production base area
Henan’s production area is mainly in Changge City, and the products are bathroom cabinets, toilets, washbasins, faucets, and bathtubs, which are of low quality.
3. Big ceramic sanitary ware manufacturers or small and medium size factories? Which one is better?
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what’s the different between a big factory and a small, medium size factory?
The most obvious difference between large factories and small and medium-sized factories is the difference in scale and popularity. Generally speaking, most of the large factories are well-known in the country or even internationally, and they have strong brand awareness. Its product line is very comprehensive, including bathroom furniture, water closets, washbasins, bathtubs, showers, faucets, intelligent toilets, bathroom accessories and so on. You can find all the bathroom solutions you need there.
Advantages of a large manufacturer.
- There are standardized and large scale production lines, and most of the equipment is the most advanced production technology in the industry. Production capacity is relatively large
- Have a registered trademark and a brand of their own.
- Product quality is usually strictly tested and controlled, and has its own clear market positioning. Even OEM products have their own quality control standards.
- Have their own core technology and product development, design patents.
Disadvantages:
The minimum order quantity is usually higher, at least 1*40HQ, and the price is relatively high.
Advantages and disadvantages of small, medium size factory
Small and medium-sized manufacturers are not as big as large factories in terms of production scale and popularity, and they don’t even have their own brands, but that doesn’t mean that their products are of poor quality. As long as you find a partner or agent you can rely on to help you communicate and control quality, small and medium-sized factories can be a wise choice. The starting order quantity will be relatively low, the price will be reasonable, but they can also do a bit of customization, and their production will be more flexible.
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which type of factory is suitable for me?
Big buyers and some brand manufacturers, such as American Standard and Home Depot. They usually tend to cooperate with larger manufacturers. Generally, these large factories have a strict quality management system, and they always take care to maintain a high level of quality. Their product quality control is extremely strict. As a condition of becoming a supplier to these big buyers, these manufacturers have to pass factory audits and product inspections. Taking these steps will ensure that these factories are qualified, and that their capabilities are adequate for mass production. Their quality control is strict enough. Their workplace is a safe one, and their management is qualified. As a result, some small or medium scale factories are likely not to become those heavy buyers’ suppliers.
However, there is an interesting phenomenon here. Sometimes big qualified factories OEM their products in the medium and small-size factories, especially when the buyer’s order is very large or their production schedule is nearly full. Despite the fact that medium or small size factories can’t meet all the requirements of big buyer, their quality is comparable to those of large factories if they can effectively control quality.
In large factories, the minimum order quantity (MOQ) is always very high. Generally speaking, large factories have a variety of product categories, including bathroom fixtures and bathroom fittings. But they are more specialized in some items or several series, and the other items are OEM or ODM in other manufacturers. Sometimes, the minimum order quantity is 40HQ (toilet: 300-400 sets, or bathroom sinks: 800-1500pcs).
As a result, If you specialize in bathroom sanitary ware, need high-quality products, have a large volume purchase, and expect a reliable delivery time, large factories are one of the best choices. If you require only a few items which less than a container, or if you wish to mix several items into one container, small and medium-sized factories will be a better choice for you, as their minimun order requirements are relatively low, and some are in stock, and also at an affordable price. Quality of the product will vary because of the quality control standards of different factories, depending on how you choose these factories.
After saying something about large manufacturing plants, we will say something about small and medium-sized factories.
4. Three types of small, medium-size sanitary ceramics manufacturers in Chaozhou, China
There are many reports or rumors stating that sanitary ware industry manufacturers are in very bad conditions. This has caused anxiety and tension among customers. They are no longer sure whether these sanitary wares factories have the ability to produce high-quality products and whether they are reliable. As a result, we’ll discuss three typ of common bathroom products factories.
1 ). Self-produced and sold, well-organized sanitary ware manufacturers
Self-produced (well-organized) factories have their own production workshop, typically have their own R&D department and production line, and each production process is well equipped. they are able to control every aspect of the production process independently.
They can control every process from raw materials to mass production on the line. These factories are very common in Chaozhou. They are very flexible and can meet the requirements of different clients. No matter whether the quantity you need is dozens or hundreds, they usually have regular inventory to meet the needs of customers.
As a result of their small or medium-sized operations, they are well organized and specialize in one or two types of products. Their quality is stable, and their pricing is competitive.
Two months ago, we received an Australian project that required 80pcs toilets and 120pcs bathroom sinks. As we have observed, this client usually needs the goods urgently and cannot accept the long delivery time. After comparing different Chinese manufacturers, we selected a well-organized factory with Watermark certification. While visiting that factory, we learned that, despite it not being a big scale factory, the company name on the watermark certification was the same as the registered factory name, that they have rich experience, better understanding what we needed, and that they offered a reasonable price.
As soon as we were introduced to the factory sales manager, Sara, we became deeply impressed and convinced that they produce and control each production process themselves. And the item we need they have stock available, it can help us shorten the delivery time, which it can satisfy our customer’s need very well.
2 ). Trading type sanitary ware “ Manufacturer ”
chaozhou sanitary ware showroom
It is likely that you will meet this kind of bathroom ceramic sanitary wares company at Alibaba, the canton fair, or other trade fairs. They will show you pictures of their luxurious showroom, large manufacturing plants and warehouse. Additionally, they have a wide variety of sanitary ware products, including ceramic wash basins, toilets, bathroom cabinets, and many more. Basically, they can supply you with any sanitary ware product you need, and they typically have full certifications, such as Watermark, CUPC, Water sense, CE, KS, SGS, SNI, and so on.
A ‘factory’ like this usually has a showroom and warehouse, or some of them only have a showroom. They outsource and sell products using their own resources. So it’s difficult to say whether their quality is good or not. However, since the products are produced by different factories, the quality is varied.
3 ). Mystery sanitary ware product workshop
The last one is the most mysterious factory model. They don’t need an office, a fixed warehouse, a showroom, or a production line. All they want is to get orders. In order to get your order, they will find different factories and offer you a very competitive price. Perhaps their price is the most competitive, but to a degree, they are the most dangerous. They might outsource to a small factory or have quality problems if you don’t have an agent inspect the products. So don’t believe everything they say if it’s just based on their pictures.
In the past year, we helped a client from Europe purchase 200 inset basins. One of the “ manufacturer” quote us a price at 11.5usd/pcs, it’s a very competitive price at that time, and we also get a sample from them and the quality looks pretty good. In this issue, we visited their office in Chaozhou and found that it was just a simple workshop. We asked him to show us his stock items and show us his production line, as well as provide the CE certificate to us, but he tactfully refused for various reasons, and only sent us pictures of “exquisite” products and the production line. So we doubted that they could provide us with high quality products.
Upon our strong request, they only showed us some so-called good quality stock items, but we found they had been repaired but still had obvious defects. It’s totally different from the sample we received at the beginning. Fortunately, we found out the problem before we placed the order. It would be a disaster if this problem occurred after the goods had been delivered to the client’s warehouse.
Finally, when purchasing sanitary ware products, we recommend that you take extra caution in dealing with them if they are from an unfamiliar supplier. After all, nobody wants to purchase a bad product.
If you want to avoid the trap when you import sanitary ware from China, please feel free to contact us.
