Padlocks are one of the highest-volume hardware export categories from India — the product is simple to specify, ships efficiently by weight and volume, and serves markets ranging from consumer retail to industrial and logistics (container seals, warehouse security, gate locks). Because the category is high-volume, it also attracts a wide range of supplier quality — from precision-machined solid brass padlocks to low-cost stamped variants. This guide covers what to specify and check when sourcing padlocks from an India-based exporter.
Padlock types and how to specify them
- Brass padlocks — the most common export category from India, valued for corrosion resistance and a traditional appearance. Body construction ranges from solid brass to brass-plated steel; specify which you need, since they differ significantly in price and durability.
- Laminated steel padlocks — layered steel plates for higher impact resistance, typically used in security and industrial applications.
- Long-shackle and closed-shackle variants — shackle length and shackle diameter affect what the padlock can secure (a chain vs. a hasp) and how resistant it is to bolt-cutter attacks.
- Disc/cylinder detainer padlocks — a different internal locking mechanism offering higher pick resistance, common in higher-security applications.
Size (body width in mm — e.g. 40mm, 50mm, 60mm) is the primary sizing reference across most padlock catalogues, including ours. Specify size, shackle type, and material/finish together in your enquiry for the most accurate quotation.
Security rating — ask, don't assume
Padlock security is sometimes described informally ("heavy duty", "high security") without reference to a testable standard. If your end use requires a specific certified security rating (for insurance, regulatory, or contractual reasons in your destination market), state that explicitly in your enquiry — an exporter should tell you plainly whether a given model meets that standard rather than agreeing to a claim it hasn't verified.
Master carton planning for padlock orders
Because padlocks are a high-unit-count, relatively low-per-unit-weight product, master carton quantity has an outsized effect on your landed cost — more units per carton means better container utilization and lower freight cost per piece. Confirm the master carton quantity and carton dimensions during quotation, particularly if you're trying to optimize a full-container-load (FCL) order.
Keying options: keyed-alike vs. keyed-differently
For bulk padlock orders — especially for institutional, logistics, or facilities-management buyers — keying configuration matters:
- Keyed differently — every padlock has a unique key, standard for retail/consumer sales.
- Keyed alike — a batch of padlocks all open with the same key, useful for a single site with many identical locks.
- Master-keyed — individual padlocks each have their own key, plus a master key that opens all of them — common for facilities management across multiple sites or departments.
Mention your keying requirement in the RFQ; it affects both manufacturing process and lead time.
Packaging and branding for padlocks
Padlocks are commonly sold both as loose bulk units (industrial/B2B buyers) and in individual retail packaging (blister pack, box with printed branding) for distributors selling to end consumers. If you need retail-ready packaging with your own branding, this is an OEM/private-label discussion — feasible on many models subject to order quantity and lead time, and worth raising early in your enquiry so it can be quoted accurately rather than added as a late change.
Trade terms and shipping
Padlock orders are shipped under the same range of Incoterms as other hardware categories — FOB and CIF are the most common for container-load orders. If you're unfamiliar with how these terms allocate shipping cost and risk, see our FOB vs CIF guide. Our Export Markets page lists the full set of Incoterms we coordinate per enquiry.
Sourcing padlocks from ZORVEX GLOBAL EXIM
Browse the Padlocks category for current models across sizes and finishes, each listed by SKU with material, finish and MOQ. For a specific security rating, keying configuration, or retail packaging requirement, submit an RFQ describing exactly what you need — our trade desk will confirm feasibility, MOQ and lead time against your actual requirement.