LK Exporting to Sri Lanka
Bagasse Tableware Supplier for Sri Lanka, Exported from India
Pulpcraft supplies Sri Lankan importers, hotel groups, resorts and foodservice distributors with compostable sugarcane bagasse tableware manufactured in India. Sri Lanka banned the import, manufacture and sale of plastic plates, cups, cutlery and several other single-use items outright, and domestic moulded-fibre capacity is limited, so most of the replacement volume is imported. India is the closest large-scale source: sailings from South Indian ports reach Colombo in a matter of days, and Indian-origin goods move under the India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement.
Sri Lanka export snapshot
Sri Lanka has banned the plastic items bagasse replaces
Sri Lanka did not simply discourage single-use plastic, it prohibited a specific list of items from being manufactured, imported, sold or used. Plastic plates, cups, forks, knives, spoons, straws, stirrers and string hopper trays are on that list. That matters commercially: the products a caterer or hotel used to buy are no longer legally importable, which converts an environmental preference into a procurement requirement.
| When | Measure | What it means for buyers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 June 2023 | Ban takes effect on seven single-use plastic items including plates, cups, cutlery, straws, stirrers and string hopper trays | Plastic disposable tableware becomes non-importable and non-sellable |
| 1 June 2023 | Gazette provides that banned goods arriving at a Sri Lankan sea or air port must be re-exported within 30 days | Importers cannot risk landing non-compliant stock |
| October 2023 | Nine further single-use plastic items added to the restricted list | Scope widens across foodservice disposables |
| November 2025 | Following a fundamental rights case, retailers directed to charge for polythene shopping bags rather than give them free | Consumer-facing plastic reduction continues to tighten |
| June 2026 | Single-use plastic bottles banned at government events | Public procurement continues to move towards plastic-free |
| 1 August 2026 | Ministry of Environment ban on non-degradable lunch sheets takes effect, covering the thin plastic film used to wrap takeaway meals | Takeaway operators need a compostable container instead of a film wrap, which is where moulded bagasse trays and deep plates fit |
What this means if you are sourcing
- Bagasse tableware is not restricted. It is plant fibre, not plastic, so it sits on the substitute side of the regulation.
- A few Sri Lankan packaging companies market compostable and bagasse ranges locally, but domestic moulded-fibre capacity is limited relative to national substitution demand, so the bulk of the volume is imported, principally from India and China.
- Indian exporters already market to Sri Lanka with dedicated country pages, which tells you the demand is there and the search intent is commercial.
- Tourism is the demand engine. Hotels, resorts and event caterers are the buyers most exposed to both the ban and to guest expectations on sustainability.
Duty, documents and classification for Sri Lankan import
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Customs classification | HS 4823.70, moulded or pressed articles of paper pulp |
| Trade agreement | The India Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement has been in force since March 2000. Indian-origin goods enter duty free except for tariff lines on the Sri Lankan negative list |
| Certificate of origin | ISFTA certificate of origin issued in India, supplied by us with the consignment on request |
| Taxes at import | VAT plus the Ports and Airports Development Levy, and any applicable CESS. Your clearing agent confirms the current rates and whether the tariff line sits on the negative list |
| Food contact | SGS food-safety test reports plus ISO 22000 food-safety management certification from the plant |
| Payment | LC or telegraphic transfer through your bank, agreed on the proforma invoice |
Confirm the ISFTA position for HS 4823.70 with your clearing agent before you commit to a landed-cost figure. We supply the origin documentation either way.
Shipping to Colombo takes days, not weeks
Everything is manufactured at our plant in Kaimur, Bihar and exported to you. There is no local warehouse and no local agent margin: you buy factory-direct, which keeps pricing keen and quality traceable to a single production line.
| Lane | From | To | Indicative transit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shortest sea leg | Tuticorin | Colombo | Roughly 1 to 2 days | Fast restocking and small, frequent consignments |
| South India feeder | Chennai | Colombo | Roughly 2 to 4 days | Regular FCL and LCL volume |
| West coast | Nhava Sheva or Mundra | Colombo | Roughly 3 to 5 days | Consolidation with other cargo or specific carrier contracts |
| Regional hub | Colombo | Onward across the Bay of Bengal | Varies by onward leg | Traders re-exporting into the region from Colombo |
Colombo is one of the best-connected ports in South Asia and is served by frequent feeder sailings from the Indian coast. Short transit means you can hold less safety stock, which matters when a product is bulky by volume relative to its value.
Ports and transit
Transit times shown are indicative and vary by carrier, season and transhipment. The exact load port, vessel and ETA are confirmed on your proforma invoice.
Documentation
Commercial invoice, packing list, transport document, certificate of origin and SGS test reports, classified under HS 4823.70 for a clean clearance.
Order flexibility
Start with an LCL trial load or move straight to full container volume. Mixed products in one consignment and private-label runs are both standard for us.
Bagasse tableware we export to Sri Lanka
Our full moulded bagasse range, with the dimensions and unit weights published on each product page. Every item is plastic-free sugarcane fibre, microwave and refrigerator safe, and suitable for hot and oily food. Browse the bagasse plates range or the complete product catalogue.
| Product | Category | Size | Unit weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 inch Triangle Plate | Plates | 132 x 120 mm | 3.5 g | Snacks, chaat, canape and sampling service |
| 6 inch Deep Round Plate | Plates | 150 x 150 x 25 mm | 7 g | Side dishes, desserts, breakfast portions |
| 7 inch Deep Round Plate | Plates | 175 x 175 x 25 mm | 8 g | Curries and gravy dishes, staff canteens |
| 9 inch Round Plate | Plates | 225 x 225 x 18.5 mm | 14 g | Everyday main course, QSR and takeaway |
| 10 inch Round Plate | Plates | 250 x 250 x 22 mm | 19 g | Full meals, buffet and banquet service |
| 11 inch Round Plate | Plates | 278 x 278 x 24.5 mm | 21 g | Large plated meals, wedding and event catering |
| 12 inch Round Plate | Plates | 305 x 305 x 24.5 mm | 25 g | Sharing platters, large-format catering |
| 10 inch 3 Compartment Plate | Plates | 250 x 250 x 22 mm | 19 g | Rice plus two sides, canteen and thali service |
| 11 inch 4 Compartment Plate | Plates | 278 x 278 x 24.5 mm | 22 g | Four-part meals, institutional catering |
| 12 inch 4 Compartment Plate | Plates | 305 x 305 x 24.5 mm | 26 g | Large four-part meals, hospital and factory canteens |
| 120 ml Kiwi Bowl | Bowls | Depth 35 mm | 4.5 g | Chutneys, dips, sauces and condiments |
| 150 ml Square Bowl | Bowls | 102 x 102 x 30 mm | 5 g | Sides, sauces, dessert portions |
| 180 ml Round Bowl | Bowls | 100 x 100 x 45 mm | 5 g | Soups, curries, yoghurt and sweets |
| 240 ml Round Bowl | Bowls | 110 x 110 x 45.5 mm | 6 g | Noodles, rice bowls, hot soups |
| 360 ml Round Bowl | Bowls | 140 x 140 x 40 mm | 9 g | Main-course bowls, delivery and cloud kitchens |
| 2 Compartment Meal Tray | Meal trays | 200 x 130 mm | 8 g | Two-item takeaway, snack combos |
| 3 Compartment Meal Tray | Meal trays | 225 x 180 mm | 13 g | Lunch boxes, delivery meals, airline-style service |
| 5 Compartment Meal Tray | Meal trays | 300 x 245 x 34 mm | 35 g | Full thali service, canteens, mass catering |
Carton contents, case dimensions and pallet configuration are confirmed on the proforma invoice for the sizes you select. Custom sizes and private-label embossing are available on production runs.
Standards, testing and the paperwork behind every shipment
Our Indian manufacturing is backed by internationally recognised management systems and independent laboratory testing, so your compliance file starts on solid ground rather than with a supplier declaration. You can read more about the plant and its certifications on our about page.
The document set that ships with your Sri Lankan consignment
| Document | What it is for |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice and packing list | Base clearance documents at Colombo |
| Bill of lading | Title and transport document |
| ISFTA certificate of origin | Supports preferential treatment on Indian-origin goods |
| SGS food-safety test reports | Evidence the tableware is safe for direct food contact |
| ISO certificates | ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22000 from the manufacturing plant |
| Product and packing specification | Sizes, unit weights, carton contents and case markings |
Who we supply in Sri Lanka
The same range serves very different operations. If your use case is not listed, it is almost certainly still a fit, and our industries served page covers the wider picture.
Hotels and resorts
Beach and city properties replacing banned plastic disposables across pool service, banqueting, room service and staff canteens, without compromising presentation.
Importers and foodservice distributors
Colombo trading houses stocking a compliant disposables range for the restaurant, catering and retail trade, in mixed-product containers.
QSR, bakery and cafe chains
Multi-outlet operators that need one consistent specification across every branch, in sizes that match existing menu formats.
Event, wedding and outdoor caterers
Large-format 11 and 12 inch plates and compartment trays for high-volume service where plastic is no longer an option.
Hospitals, schools and canteens
Institutional feeding programmes that need durable compartment plates and trays at predictable cost.
Retail and supermarket chains
Own-label disposable ranges for supermarket shelves, produced as private-label runs with your branding.
Why source bagasse tableware from India
Geography is the first argument. Colombo sits a short feeder sailing from the Indian coast, so lead times are measured in days. Against a Far East supplier that is a structural advantage: you can order closer to demand, hold less stock, and respond to a season without committing to a container six weeks in advance.
The second argument is raw material. India is one of the largest sugarcane producers in the world, so bagasse fibre is abundant and steadily priced. That is what keeps moulded bagasse tableware competitive against both imported plastic substitutes and imported paper board.
The third is documentation. Pulpcraft manufactures under ISO 9001, ISO 14001, ISO 45001 and ISO 22000, with SGS food-safety testing on finished product, and supplies the ISFTA certificate of origin. You are buying factory-direct from the plant, not through a trading layer, which keeps both the price and the quality trail clean.
From enquiry to delivered consignment
Tell us the products, sizes, approximate volume and your destination port or town in Sri Lanka. A photo of what you buy today is enough to start.
We confirm the specification, the load port, the routing, the lead time and the document set, with pricing on your chosen Incoterm.
Samples are couriered so you can check wall thickness, rigidity and how the item behaves with your own food before you commit.
Your order is moulded on a certified line, inspected and packed to the case specification agreed on the proforma invoice.
The consignment moves on the agreed lane and the full document set follows so your clearing agent in Sri Lanka has everything in hand.
Guides for Sri Lanka buyers
Sri Lanka export questions, answered
Is bagasse tableware legal to import into Sri Lanka?
How long does shipping from India to Colombo take?
Do Indian goods enter Sri Lanka duty free under ISFTA?
Can hotels use bagasse tableware for hot buffet service?
How does bagasse store in a humid, coastal climate?
What is the minimum order?
Do you offer private label for Sri Lankan brands?
We export bagasse tableware worldwide
Get an export quote for Sri Lanka
Tell us your products, quantities and destination. We will send a factory-direct quotation with lead time, routing and the full documentation set for Sri Lanka import.