Sanitaryware — WCs, basins, baths, showers, factory-direct from China to Ireland
Foshan and neighbouring Chaozhou produce the majority of the world's vitreous china sanitaryware. The factory cluster supplies most European bathroom brands as OEM. Ériu Sourcing buys direct for Irish bathroom showrooms, hotel fit-out contractors, residential developers, and plumbing merchants — bypassing the European brand markup that typically doubles the factory-gate price.
Last reviewed:
- Foshan and Chaozhou, Guangdong Province Manufacturing region
- 5–7 weeks production Production lead time
- EN + CE Compliance verified at factory
Foshan and Chaozhou, Guangdong Province
Foshan's sanitaryware district contains over 600 vitreous china factories, several of which are private-label OEMs for Duravit, Roca, Ideal Standard, and Geberit. Direct access means buying the same WC pan or basin — identical clay body, identical glaze, identical fittings — at the factory price.
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Built for Irish trade buyers, not consumers
- ✓ Bathroom showrooms and merchants
- ✓ Hotel and hospitality fit-out contractors
- ✓ Residential developers and self-build projects
- ✓ Plumbing trade merchants
- ✓ Care home, student accommodation, and modular construction fit-out
Technical specification
| Product range | Floor-standing and wall-hung WCs, washbasins (counter, semi-recessed, pedestal), baths, shower trays and enclosures, urinals, taps and mixers |
|---|---|
| Material | Vitreous china (WCs, basins, urinals); acrylic + steel mesh (baths); SMC / tempered glass (shower enclosures); brass (taps) |
| Flush technology | Dual-flush 3/6L or 4/6L; rimless designs available; soft-close seats standard |
| Finish | White (standard), matt black, matt grey, custom colour glazes on request |
| Tap finish | Chrome, brushed nickel, matt black, brushed gold, gunmetal |
| MOQ | ~200 pcs per SKU on vitreous china; mixed-SKU container loads supported |
What we verify at the factory — before the container is sealed
- EN 997 — WC pans and WC suites with integral trap
- EN 14688 — Washbasins
- EN 14516 — Baths for domestic purposes
- EN 14428 — Shower enclosures
- EN 14527 — Shower trays
- EN 200 / EN 817 / EN 1112 — Sanitary tapware
- CE marking + Declaration of Performance per CPR (EU) 305/2011 where applicable
- WRAS / KIWA equivalent on tapware available for water-byelaw projects
Goods that fail compliance or pre-shipment QC stay in China at the factory's cost — you do not pay freight on non-compliant product.
Ask about compliance documentation →What this lands at in Ireland
Sanitaryware bought factory-direct from Foshan typically lands in Ireland 40–55% below Irish bathroom trade pricing for equivalent specification. A mid-spec rimless dual-flush WC suite that retails at €280–€420 through Irish merchants routinely lands at €85–€130. The saving compounds across a hotel or apartment-block project — a 60-unit residential build saves €15,000–€25,000 on sanitaryware alone.
Lead time and logistics
Lead time: 5–7 weeks production + 4–5 weeks sea freight (Shenzhen/Yantian → Dublin).
Vitreous china ships palletised in heat-treated wooden crates with corrugated dividers — breakage rate under 0.5% on Ériu Sourcing inspected shipments. A 40ft HQ container holds approximately 250–350 WC suites or 600–800 basins depending on configuration. Mixed-SKU containers combining WCs, basins, baths, taps, and shower enclosures are the common pattern for hotel and apartment fit-out orders.
Construction Materials — sourcing questions answered
Is Chinese sanitaryware quality comparable to European brands like Roca or Ideal Standard?
Yes, when sourced from the OEM factories that already produce for those brands. The same Foshan factory that makes Roca's mid-range WC also makes own-label versions for export — same clay body, same glaze, same flushing geometry, same Geberit or Wirquin cistern internals. The difference is the badge on the box and 80–120% margin. Ériu Sourcing identifies the OEM factory behind a target European specification and sources the equivalent product directly.
Are the WC cisterns compatible with European plumbing standards?
Yes. Standard Chinese export WC cisterns ship with 1/2" BSP inlet, 110 mm pan outlet (compatible with Irish soil pipe), and dual-flush 3/6L mechanism. Wall-hung WC frames ship with European fixing centres. Concealed cisterns commonly use Geberit, Wirquin, or Chinese OEM internals — specify the cistern brand at quote stage if the project requires Geberit Sigma compatibility for future serviceability.
What about water byelaws and WRAS approval for the Irish market?
Tapware sold in Ireland for mains drinking water connection should ideally carry WRAS or equivalent approval. Many Chinese factories produce WRAS-approved tap ranges for the UK and Irish markets — Ériu Sourcing only quotes factories that can provide the WRAS certificate or KIWA equivalent on request. For non-mains applications (commercial fit-out where the building has a header tank), the WRAS requirement is less strict.
Can I order a mixed container with WCs, basins, baths, and taps for a hotel project?
Yes — this is the standard pattern for hospitality and residential fit-out orders. A typical 40ft mixed container for a 50-room hotel might combine 60 WC suites, 60 basin+pedestal sets, 60 bath+shower combinations, 60 mixer taps, plus spares. Ériu Sourcing coordinates the cross-factory order, consolidates at the Shenzhen warehouse, and ships as a single container with a unified packing list.
How do I avoid getting cracked or chipped sanitaryware on arrival?
Three safeguards: (1) pre-shipment inspection — every WC, basin, and bath is unpacked from its corrugated wrapper, visually inspected for hairline cracks, glaze defects, and chips before re-packing; (2) the factory commitment includes a defect tolerance written into the PI (typically ≤ 0.5%) with credit for any exceeding; (3) heat-treated wooden crates rather than carton-only packaging — adds €0.30–€0.50 per piece but eliminates the dominant transit-damage cause.
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