Are you involved in residential construction or commercial projects but unsure where to source your materials? Worried about identifying reliable suppliers? Quality control? High costs and over budget? Potential fraud and communication challenges during the sourcing process? Let’s help you!
Come to Foshan, China, “Oriental Building Materials Capital,” accounting for one in every three tiles worldwide! The city’s annual transaction volume in the building materials sector exceeds 100 billion RMB.
This post is to show you 10 markets in Foshan to facilitate your sourcing needs.
Top 10 Markets
- Foshan International Ceramics Exhibition Center
- Shiwan Shagang Ceramics Wholesale Market
- Ceramics International Trading Center
- Casa Ceramics and Sanitarywares Mall
- Huada Ceramics Sanitarywares Building Materials City
- Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City Block A
- Shunle International Lighting City
- Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City Block B
- Huayi (International) Decoration Expo City
- Meiju International Building Materials Exposition & Exhibition Center
#1 Foshan International Ceramics Exhibition Center
For Ceramics Sourcing
As the name suggests, this market often hosts international exhibitions, and numerous suppliers in it engage in export trade.
With its 40,000-square-meter space, it hosts nearly 200 renowned ceramic brands from China and abroad, offering a vast selection of products including ceramic tiles and sanitary ware. The market also features ample parking, nearby hotel, and entertainment facilities, convenient for visitors.
There are many notable suppliers features 2/3 stories, showing innovative displays and high-quality products.
#2 Shiwan Shagang Ceramics Wholesale Market
For Ceramics Sourcing
The Shiwan Shagang Ceramics Market in Foshan is a 470,000 large-scale, well-established wholesale market with over 30 years of history, offering competitively priced and diverse building materials.
Despite its older appearance, it remains a valuable resource for project building and bulk buyers seeking a wide range of products, including ceramics, tiles, sanitaryware, lighting, hardware, etc.
The market includes warehouses for viewing product inventories, with some suppliers providing immediate delivery for in-stock items.
There is a range of products with varying prices offered, according to your budget. However, lower prices do not necessarily equate to inferior quality. We recommend discussing specific requirements with us and the supplier.
#3 Ceramics International Trading Center
For Ceramics Sourcing
It also known as Cihai Ceramics Market, is a sprawling supplier hub for ceramic tiles, located in Nanzhuang, about a 20-minute drive from central Chancheng District. With the area of over 300,000 square meters and around 400 suppliers, it has spacious showrooms often occupying entire buildings. It includes brand display areas, commercial zones, storage centers, logistics hubs, and a hotel ideal for visitors. Given its size, exploring the market is best done by car.
#4 Casa Ceramics and Sanitarywares Mall
For Sanitary Ware Sourcing
This large and popular market in Foshan is a must-visit destination for clients seeking sanitaryware.
Currently, over 650 suppliers are registered, primarily featuring mid-to-high-end brands within the sanitary ware and ceramics sectors.
It attracts many international visitors, evident from the frequent business vans bringing people to the site. Around half of the suppliers have multi-story, well-decorated showrooms offering a wide variety of high-quality products, such as the top brands like TOTO, Monalisa, ARROW, DONGPENG, HEGII, and JOMOO.
#5 Huada Ceramics Sanitarywares Building Materials City
For Doors & Windows Sourcing
The Huada Market is a large and specialized building materials market in Foshan, known for its vast array of suppliers offering doors, and windows.
It stands out for its extensive focus on aluminum and stainless steel doors and windows, with nearly 60% of suppliers dedicated to these products. Besides, there are wooden doors, security doors, smart locks, casement windows, shutters, and so on.
#6 Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City Block A
For Lighting Fixtures Sourcing
This market, Block A, is renowned for its lighting products. The market showcases a comprehensive range of lighting fixtures, from high-end custom designs to common types, from luxury to everyday use, including crystal chandeliers, ceiling lights, wall sconces, and LED lighting, satisfying different customer requirements.
#7 Shunle International Lighting City
For Lighting Fixtures Sourcing
This market offers a wide variety of lighting products, including commercial and home lighting options like chandeliers, ceiling lights, wall lights, floor lamps, spotlights, LED, etc. These products meet diverse decoration needs, with different styles, like modern minimalist, European classical, Chinese traditional, and so on. The products there are so gorgeous, stylish, creative, making it a must-visit premium destination for lighting sourcing!
#8 Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City Block B
For Kitchen Cabinets Sourcing
Block B in the market, is for kitchen cabinets, is one of the most comprehensive markets in Foshan. Top kitchen brands like OPPEIN, Haier, and Siemens, also have showrooms here. The market offers products ranging from affordable options to high-end custom designs. The products meet international standards in terms of style, quality, and design. The cabinets emphasize both functionality and aesthetic appeal, satisfying the varied demands of contemporary home decor.
#9 Huayi (International) Decoration Expo City
For Comprehensive Building Materials
Huayi Building Materials Market is the largest and most renowned comprehensive building materials market in Foshan, offering a full range of products across different sections: ceramics, sanitaryware, ceiling, lighting, doors & windows, floor, wall decor, fabric art, wardrobe, hardware, appliance, high-end customization, mid-range goods, …… It features showrooms from numerous factories-the factory-owned.
The market also hosts top-brand suppliers like TOTO, ARROW, and Panasonic, alongside non-brand suppliers offering quality products at competitive prices. Popular among foreign visitors, it is a must-visit destination for sourcing building materials.
#10 Meiju International Building Materials Exposition & Exhibition Center
For Comprehensive Building Materials
Meiju Market, spanning 280,000 square meters, features numerous suppliers offering a wide range of products including tiles, ceramics, sanitaryware, kitchen cabinets, doors, windows, lighting, flooring, staircases, etc.
It hosts many top-brand suppliers, giving it a high-end feel enhanced by well-maintained shop exteriors. Additionally, a neighboring food street offers a variety of food: Cantonese dishes, Western cuisine, spicy hotpot, southeast Asian flavor, providing a perfect spot to take a break during your visit.
Summary of the 10 Markets
| Number | Market Name | Product Category |
| No.1 |
Foshan International Ceramics Exhibition Center |
Ceramics |
| No.2 |
Shiwan Shagang Ceramics Wholesale Market |
Ceramics |
| No.3 |
Ceramics International Trading Center |
Ceramics |
| No.4 |
Casa Ceramics and Sanitarywares Mall |
Sanitary Ware
|
| No.5 |
Huada Ceramics Sanitarywares Building Materials City |
Doors & Windows
|
| No.6 |
Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City Block A |
Lighting |
| No.7 |
Shunle International Lighting City |
Lighting |
| No.8 |
Sunlink Lighting and Kitchen Cabinet City Block B |
Kitchen Cabinets
|
| No.9 |
Huayi (International) Decoration Expo City |
Building Materials
|
| No.10 |
Meiju International Building Materials Exposition & Exhibition Center |
Building Materials
|
FAQs about these Markets
a. What are the operational hours of these markets?
The majority of markets operate from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM.
b. Are they open on weekends?
Yes, they are open on weekends and only close during the Chinese New Year holiday.
c. Is English-speaking available in these markets?
Given the international clients, certain suppliers, particularly those representing premier brands, employ English-speaking salespeople.
For less complex interactions, such as price and size inquiries, basic English may suffice.
To mitigate potential miscommunications, it is advisable to employ an English-Chinese interpreter or use translation APP.
d. What are the price points of the products in these markets?
The markets like Shiwan Shagang Markets feature numerous unbranded suppliers offering lower-priced products.
Conversely, the Exhibition Center primarily houses branded suppliers, typically with higher price points.
However, certain markets present a blend of branded and unbranded suppliers, providing a range of options at moderate price levels. It is advisable to make comparison after communication.
e. Do they accept payments in USD?
Most suppliers are inclined to CNY. But in Casa Market, most suppliers prefer payments via US transfers, as it simplifies export declaration. Credit cards are generally not accepted, and only a few suppliers may accept it.
f. How to visit these markets?
These markets are usually close to each other, sometimes even opposite one another, allowing you to visit several in one go.
They’re all located near major roads, making taxi or car travel the most convenient options.
There are also nearby subway or bus stations, so public transport is another viable choice.
How to Buy and Export Building Materials from China
- Finalize the desired product categories, styles, quality, and specifications, and make a detailed product list.
- Look for the markets/suppliers online and do the screening of good suppliers.
- Visit China markets for site inspection.
- Engage in negotiations and discussions with the visited suppliers; make comparison if multiple suppliers are involved.
- Confirm product specifications and negotiate pricing with the selected suppliers.
- Sign the contract and remit payment.
- Inspect the goods upon completion of production.
- Pay the balance and consolidate the goods after confirming the goods meet the required standards.
- Load the consolidated goods into containers.
- Prepare necessary documentation, including certificates of origin, inspection, and fumigation, for export customs clearance.
- Coordinate with international logistics providers to book shipping.
- Handle customs clearance and import procedures upon the arrival of the container at the destination country.
How to Choose Good Suppliers
a. Do they have their own factory?
Suppliers with in-house production facilities tend to be more reliable. You can also visit their factory to assess their operations.
b. Is their product range specialized or diverse?
Generally, suppliers focusing on specialized products have better expertise and higher quality.
c. Do they possess product or business certifications?
- Business certifications: Valid business license, production license, and export qualifications.
- Product certifications: Fire resistance certifications (e.g., GB8624 for China) or other industry-specific standards.
d. How about their reputation status?
Investigate through their company website, industry forums, or reviews on B2B platforms (e.g., Alibaba, Global Sources).
e. Is the pricing reasonable?
- Check for hidden costs (e.g., packaging, certifications, or logistics fees).
- Ensure the total cost aligns with your budget. Negotiate better pricing for larger orders.
- Compare quotes from multiple suppliers and prioritize secure payment methods.
f. Export experience and service capabilities?
- Confirm their ability to handle customs clearance and logistics arrangements.
- Clarify their process for resolving quality issues (e.g., returns, replacements).
- Opt for suppliers with proven export experience or partner with trusted logistics providers.
g. Communication and Service Quality
- Evaluate responsiveness during initial interactions and professionalism of customer service.
- Verify if they offer after-sales protection (e.g., warranties, technical support).
How Can Agent Help You
After understanding your specific requirements, an agency can help you with the entire process, executing the necessary steps, thereby saving both your time and cost.
Market guiding, order following, inspection, consolidation, warehousing, shipping, etc.
BEFORE COMING TO CHINA – TRAVEL PREPARATIONS
- Make efficient visiting schedule
- Hotel recommendation and reservation
- Help to book the car for airport pick up
WHEN VISITING CHINA
- Arrange airport shuttle
- Guide you to the market and select suppliers for you
- Confirm the orders, sign the contract with suppliers, and arrange payment (Pay deposit before placing order. Pay balance before shipping)
AFTER PLACING ORDERS
- follow up the producion
- Inspect the goods carefully, and send you inspection pictures/reports to confirm
- Transport the manufactured goods to the warehouse and consolidate the cargo.
- Arrange shipping:
a. Check the shipping cost and schedual.
b. Book container space and load container.
c. Handle export customs clearence and make document.
Sourcing Agent Service
The above is about the ultimate guidefor building materials sourcing. If you’re considering sourcing from Foshan, our professional team is prepared to facilitate the entire process.
We serve as your dependable Foshan sourcing agent, offering comprehensive services encompassing supplier selection, quality control, factory inspections, shipping, interpretation, ……
We are Foshan Page – your go-to resource for building materials sourcing!
