To import tiles to the UK from India, you need a customs declaration, the right commodity code and tiles that carry either CE or UKCA marking with a supporting Declaration of Performance. Import duty on tiles in the UK is set by the commodity code and origin, and you check it in the UK Trade Tariff.
Great Britain now has its own UKCA mark, but the government announced on 2 September 2024 that CE marking will continue to be accepted for construction products. Northern Ireland follows separate rules, and CE marking continues to be recognised there.
Which marking do you need?
Tiles are covered by the harmonised standard EN 14411, so they need CE or UKCA marking to be sold in Great Britain. A CE-marked tile with a valid Declaration of Performance can be sold there as of October 2026, and UKCA is an alternative. Confirm the current position on GOV.UK construction product guidance before each new product, because the policy is tied to wider reforms.
The practical point is the same under either mark. The factory must hold a Declaration of Performance, and you must be able to produce it. CE marking for tiles and the Declaration of Performance explain what each document says.
How is import duty worked out?
Your broker needs the ten-digit commodity code, the origin and the customs value. Ceramic tiles sit under heading 6907, and the subheading depends on water absorption, so use the figure from an accredited lab report, not the catalogue.
India and the UK have negotiated a trade agreement, and a preferential rate may apply if it is in force and the goods meet the origin rules. Check the current status on GOV.UK rather than relying on a general statement. Also ask your broker whether any UK trade remedy applies to the product, and add import VAT, which is charged on the goods value plus duty and freight.
What should a UK buyer hold on file?
Keep a set of records for each product and each shipment, because trading standards and customers can ask for them:
- The Declaration of Performance and the CE or UKCA marking evidence for the tile type.
- The laboratory test report that supports the declared values.
- The commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading and certificate of origin where needed.
- The importer name and address on the packaging or accompanying documents, as UK rules for imported construction products expect.
How long does the shipment take?
Sea freight from the Gujarat ports to UK ports varies with the routing and the season, and recent years have shown that routes can change at short notice. Sea freight times from India explains how to plan, and your forwarder should confirm the current transit before you set a delivery date.
Plan the UK end of the journey too. Ask your forwarder who pays demurrage and detention if the broker is waiting for factory documents, whether the container will be delivered to your site or a warehouse, and whether the delivery vehicle needs a tail-lift, since tile pallets are heavy. Agree who is responsible for each step in the Incoterm, as explained in FOB, CIF or DAP.
Next step
We check that the factory can produce a Declaration of Performance and a matching test report before you order, and supervise loading so the cartons match the documents. To plan a UK order, book a free sourcing review.