Tile importers in North America, and porcelain slab importers in the USA, want product that arrives with test reports to the ANSI standard, matches the sample every time and can be reordered months later. Price matters, but dealers who hold stock are paid for reliability.
The market also has a mix of customers: showroom chains, distributors, fabricators and contractors. Each asks for something slightly different.
What certification do they expect?
There is no mandatory national mark for tiles, so buyers rely on the specification. In the US the reference is ANSI A137.1, with wet-area friction commonly checked against ANSI A326.3. Canada uses a CSA version of the tile standard. A test report that shows compliance is a sales document as well as a technical one. See the ANSI A137.1 tile standard.
For slabs, ask for the report to the standard for gauged porcelain panels, and, for countertops, the extra tests listed in tests for countertop slabs.
Why does stock-holding change the order?
Dealers in North America hold tiles in warehouses and sell over months or years. That puts pressure on the supplier in four ways:
- Every box must carry the shade, calibre and lot information so that a reorder can be matched.
- The supplier must keep the same design, body and glaze consistent between production runs.
- Cartons and pallets must survive long inland trucking and warehouse stacking.
- Slabs need lot and bundle numbers so that fabricators can match panels for a single job.
What about branding and private label?
Many North American importers sell under their own brand. Factories can print your brand on cartons, but the minimums and artwork rules vary. Private label tile boxes explains what to agree. For slabs, branding is usually through the bundle labelling and the sample sets rather than on the product.
Country-of-origin marking is required, so agree the marking with the factory before production.
Dealers also expect sample support: sample boards, small sample cartons and image files for each design. Ask what the factory supplies and what it charges. North American dealers sell in inches and square feet per box, so cartons should show coverage in both square feet and square metres, and the coverage must be accurate.
For slabs, specify the bundle size and how many slabs a bundle holds, so fabricators can match panels for a single job.
What do duties and entry look like?
Entry follows the standard process through a customs broker, with an importer of record and a bond. As of October 2026 the US applies a countervailing duty on ceramic tile from India, with a rate that depends on the exporter, and other tariffs have changed several times. Import duties on Indian tiles sets out the dated position. For a country-specific walk-through, see import tiles from India to the USA and porcelain slabs into the USA.
Next step
We find plants that can supply consistent lots with the right reports, set up the carton and bundle marking, and supervise loading. To plan a North American order, book a free sourcing review.