A New Chapter from the Kilns of Liling，Amid the enduring glow of kilns in Liling, China’s thousand-year-old ceramic capital, Perfina stoneware is embarking on a new overseas journey. From the heart of China to the kitchens and dining tables of East Africa, especially Tanzania, these sturdy, lustrous, and eco-friendly stoneware pieces are crossing borders via the Belt and Road Initiative. This is not merely an export of ceramic products—it’s a cultural dialogue between Chinese craftsmanship and African living aesthetics. As an emerging brand on the global stage, Perfina is rewriting the narrative of Chinese ceramics through quality commitment and cultural confidence.
While bone china is widely recognized, stoneware often draws puzzled looks—“How do you even pronounce it?” Behind this unfamiliarity lies the story of a powerful but understated ceramic form. Positioned between traditional earthenware and porcelain, stoneware combines the strengths of both: dense texture, low water absorption, and exceptional durability, making it a versatile choice for everyday tableware.
Though its roots trace back thousands of years, modern stoneware’s commercial rise began in the 21st century. In ceramic towns like Liling, stoneware quickly gained popularity thanks to its practicality, becoming a favorite for both export and domestic markets.
As a rising brand in China’s stoneware export scene, Perfina respects traditional techniques while embracing modern aesthetics. The company’s design team, deeply immersed in ceramic artistry, continues to push boundaries in glaze formulation, color development, and form.
Perfina’s collections feature earthy tones such as mocha, white, green, beige, and gray-beige—colors that exude a refined, high-end feel, highly favored by global consumers. In terms of shape, Perfina ingeniously integrates Chinese paper-cut motifs and auspicious symbols into contemporary tableware, striking a perfect balance between East and West, classic and modern.
Stoneware, as a ceramic type positioned between porcelain and pottery, offers a unique blend of utility and artistry. Its key advantages include:
High Thermal Resistance: Fired at over 1200°C, stoneware boasts excellent heat stability, making it safe for microwave ovens and baking environments.
Low Porosity: Its dense body and low water absorption help maintain hygiene and extend product life.
Rich, Glossy Glaze: Liling stoneware is known for its layered glaze textures, especially the iconic “Liling Red,” showcasing deep Eastern aesthetic appeal.
Thick, Durable Build: Unlike delicate thin-walled porcelain, stoneware is heavier and more robust—ideal for transport and daily use in African markets.
Eco-Friendly and Safe: Made with lead- and cadmium-free glaze, it meets international food safety standards and appeals strongly to environmentally conscious consumers.
Thanks to these strengths, stoneware is gaining a reputation in Africa as both practical and elegant, helping promote Chinese ceramic culture across continents.
Perfina’s upcoming tableware production facility in Tanzania, set to be operational by the end of 2025, will feature highly automated processes. Specially treated clay is converted into dry powder and then molded, trimmed, glazed, and fired using a seamless system of smart machinery and sensors. With automated transport belts and precision engineering, the factory is expected to reach industry-leading daily output.
Most factory staff are recruited from Dar es Salaam and nearby regions, contributing to local employment and ensuring stable, high-quality production.
On the global stage, stoneware faces fierce competition from traditional ceramic powerhouses in Europe, Japan, and South Korea. Fluctuating exchange rates and shifting trade policies add layers of uncertainty. Still, Perfina sees more opportunity than risk. Stoneware’s eco-friendly, lead-free, dishwasher-safe qualities align with the global trend toward health and sustainability.
With continued momentum from the Belt and Road Initiative, Perfina is expanding into African and Southeast Asian markets by establishing showrooms and distribution channels. The goal: to build a localized-globalized supply model—“local markets + Chinese craftsmanship + global logistics.”
In recent years, Perfina has focused heavily on Africa, particularly Tanzania. In 2024, the company established a ceramic manufacturing base in Mkuranga, utilizing local kaolin resources and infusing them with Liling ceramic techniques. This localized production lowers transportation and tariff costs, ensuring fast and efficient supply.
In June 2025, Perfina launched its flagship ceramic tableware showroom in Dar es Salaam. Blending exhibition, sales, and customer experience, this hub serves as a new landmark for China-Africa ceramic cultural exchange and industrial cooperation. Its "front shop, back factory" model is becoming a blueprint for Chinese ceramic brands going global.
More than just tableware, Perfina’s stoneware embodies stories of culture and craftsmanship. Found in European department stores, East African supermarkets, and local homes alike, these products are not only practical—they’re artistic ambassadors of Chinese heritage.
Looking ahead, Perfina will continue advancing international design and localized production, promoting stoneware culture worldwide. The journey of stoneware “going global” has only just begun, and its cultural resonance is already echoing across oceans—stronger and more enduring with each passing wave.
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