china-2026/”>shipping a used excavator from china to china-used-excavators-gaining-ground-africa-market-2026/”>africa or the Middle East sounds complicated, but it is more straightforward than most people think — especially when you know the right steps.
Why import Excavators from China?
China builds some of the world’s most competitive construction equipment at prices that beat Japan, Europe, and the US by a wide margin. A caterpillar 320D that costs USD 80,000+ in Germany sells for USD 20,000-30,000 in China — and we are talking relatively young machines with 3,000-5,000 working hours. For mining operations and infrastructure projects across africa, the Middle East, and southeast Asia, this price gap is the difference between staying within budget and blowing it entirely. Our Baoding yard stocks 2018-2025 model year excavators from caterpillar, komatsu, SANY, and XCMG, all ready for export with full documentation.
The shipping Process: Step by Step
The first thing we do is help you pick the right machine for your port. Not every excavator fits every port — some african ports have crane limitations, and overweight machines need special permits. We walk through the machine’s operating weight, transport dimensions, and whether it needs to be disassembled for shipping. Our team handles this assessment at no extra cost.
Once you have chosen the machine, we spend 7-20 days getting it ready. Machines that do not need refurbishment ship within 7 days. If we need to do paint touch-ups, hydraulic system checks, or track adjustments, plan for 20 days. During this time, we send you video updates so you can see exactly what is happening before it leaves our yard in Baoding, Hebei Province.
Container vs. RORO: Which Is Better?
Most small to medium excavators go via 20ft or 40ft container. This gives the machine maximum protection from salt air and handling damage. RORO (Roll-on/Roll-off) is cheaper but works only for machines that can drive onto the vessel — typically excavators under 25 tons. We help you calculate which method makes most sense for your situation.
Shipping time from Tianjin Port to East Africa runs about 25-30 days. West africa takes 30-35 days, and South America 35-40 days. These are actual vessel transit times; add 5-7 days for port handling at both ends.
Customs and import Duties
This is where most buyers get surprised. Import duties on used construction equipment vary wildly by country. Kenya charges 0% on certain agricultural machinery but 25%+ on excavators. Tanzania has a 15% import duty plus 18% VAT. Nigeria’s fees can add 30-40% to the machine cost. We provide a complete fee breakdown for your specific country before you commit to buying. We handle all Chinese export documentation — that is our side of the paperwork. What happens on your end depends on your country’s customs requirements, and we’ll connect you with a local customs broker if you do not have one.
How to Avoid Common Mistakes
The biggest mistake is buying a machine without checking whether your port can receive it. We’ve seen buyers purchase 50-ton excavators only to discover their nearest port has no crane capable of unloading it. Always verify port capabilities first. The second common error is underestimating total landed cost. The machine price is only part of what you pay. Add shipping (USD 3,000-8,000), insurance (0.3-0.5% of machine value), customs duties, and local transportation from port to site. Our sales team provides a complete landed cost calculation upfront — no guessing.
How long does shipping take from China to Africa?
Vessel transit from Tianjin to East african ports like Mombasa or Dar es Salaam typically runs 25-30 days. West Africa (Lagos, Douala) takes 30-35 days. Factor in 7-20 days of preparation time at our yard, so plan for 5-7 weeks from order confirmation to port arrival.
What is the total cost of importing an excavator from China?
Beyond the machine price (caterpillar 320D typically USD 20,000-30,000), budget approximately USD 5,000-10,000 for shipping, USD 500-1,000 for Chinese export documentation, USD 800-1,500 for insurance, and your country’s import duties (varies 0-40% by country). We provide a complete cost breakdown before you purchase.
Do you help with customs clearance in my country?
We handle all documentation on the China side and can recommend experienced customs brokers in major african ports. For most countries, the customs broker fee is USD 500-1,500 depending on complexity. We stay involved throughout the process until the machine clears your port.
Want a landed cost estimate for your specific project? We need your port, preferred machine model, and target delivery date. With those three pieces of information, we can give you a complete cost breakdown within 24 hours.