§1What this business is
China clay, ball clay, quartz and feldspar are ground with water into a slip, screened and magnetically cleaned, then cast in plaster moulds. The dried pieces are finished, glazed in a spray booth and fired in a kiln, then sorted and packed. Buyers are sanitary-hardware shops, builders and plumbing contractors.
§2Is it right for you?
Who it is for
Someone who has worked in a sanitaryware or pottery unit and knows casting and firing.
Who it is not for
A newcomer with no ceramics background — rejection rates can wipe out the profit.
Advantages
- Every new house, hotel and office needs washbasins
- Ceramic still beats steel and fibre on looks and cleaning
- Raw clays are easy to get in ceramic clusters
- Labour-led process suits small towns with skilled potters
Drawbacks
- Labour is the largest cost after raw material
- Breakage and cracks in drying and firing cut output
- Big brands set the retail price
- Kiln fuel and moulds need constant spending
Skills you need
- Slip preparation and plaster-mould casting
- Glazing and kiln firing
- Quality sorting
- Selling to dealers and builders
Why difficulty 4/5: Casting, glazing and firing must all go right, and rejections are costly.
§3Market
Who buys
- Builders and housing projects
- Households renovating bathrooms
- Hotels, offices and institutions
How it sells
- Sanitary-hardware dealers and shops
- Plumbing contractors
Good to know
- The report says ceramic sanitaryware has not been replaced by steel or fibre because it is cheap, easy to clean and comes in many colours.
§4Raw material & machinery
| Item | Qty | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Ball mill with porcelain lining and grinding media | — | — |
| Agitator | — | — |
| Slurry pump | — | — |
| Magnetic separator | — | — |
| Spray booths with air compressor and spray guns | — | — |
| Ceramic-fibre-lined oil-fired shuttle kilns | — | — |
| Oil storage tank and pre-heating system | — | — |
| Testing laboratory equipment, drying racks, work tables, slurry containers | — | — |
| All machinery together (excl. GST and transport) | — | ₹9.92 lakh |
From: PMEGP sample project report — Ceramic Sanitaryware Wash Basin (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
- China clay, ball clay or fire clay, feldspar powder, quartzbody of the washbasin
- Plaster of Parisfor casting moulds
- Colours, chemicals and packing materialglaze and dispatch
From: PMEGP sample project report — Ceramic Sanitaryware Wash Basin (prepared by Udyami/Samadhan)
In our raw material database
§5Licences & registration
- Udyam
- GST
- Pollution control board NOC
- Fire NOC
- Trade licence
- Factory licence
- Import Export Code if exporting
- Trademark for the brand
§6Schemes & subsidies
- PMEGPCentralActive15–35% subsidy
- MudraCentralActiveLoan up to ₹20 lakh, no collateral
- CGTMSECentralActiveNo collateral, up to ₹10 crore
PMEGP sample project; MUDRA (up to ₹20 L) and CGTMSE fit the ₹15.74 L size.
§7Money
How the investment is worked out: Samadhan report: plant & machinery ₹9.92 L (excl. GST and transport) + other misc assets ₹1.50 L + working capital ₹4.32 L = ₹15.74 L. Land and building owned or leased. Finance: term loan ₹10.28 L, WC loan ₹3.89 L, own ₹1.57 L.
Working capital: Working capital ₹4.32 lakh, of which the bank funds ₹3.89 lakh.
Year not printed on the report — check current machinery prices.
§8Export potential
Confirm the HS code in the DGFT ITC(HS) lookup before you export
Export council / board: CAPEXIL
- Confirm the 8-digit ITC(HS) line with DGFT or your customs broker.
- You need an Import Export Code (IEC) from DGFT before the first shipment.
§9Risks — where people fail
- High rejection in firing
- Competition from branded sanitaryware
- Fuel price for the kiln
- Dealer credit
§1030 / 60 / 90-day plan
A general plan that applies to any business. A plan for this business will be added after research.
- Days 1–30: Visit a working ceramic washbasin (sanitaryware) unit, ask 10 buyers about price and quantity, and get quotations from 3 suppliers.
- Days 31–60: Udyam and the licences you need (Udyam, GST), a project report (DPR), and the scheme or loan file.
- Days 61–90: Space and machines, trial production, and first deliveries to 10 customers.
§11Who to connect with
Associations, clusters and training institutes — the directory is being built. Connect
§12Watch
There is no episode on this business yet. Shows are coming soon on the Podcast page.
Want to start Ceramic Washbasin (Sanitaryware)?
DPR, loan file or registration — ask us on WhatsApp.
¶Sources
Data review: 6 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Report it. For information only — not legal or financial advice.