Heavy Equipment

Heavy Equipment Shipping Cost: What Moves the Price

How carriers bill machinery by the cubic metre, what lost slots on a flat rack cost, truck and permit prices from six inland cities, biosecurity rules, six worked examples with duty, and prices for eight machines in every region.

By the Seaway Export logistics team Updated October 2026 13 min read

⁦$1,900–2,600⁩

Skid steer to Ghana, shared box

⁦$9,500–15,300⁩

20 t excavator to Nigeria

m³ or t, whichever is greater

Billed on

How carriers bill machinery

RoRo and breakbulk freight is charged per revenue ton: the greater of the weight in metric tons and the volume in cubic metres. Almost every machine is billed on volume. A Cat 320 measures 84.1 m³ in transport position but weighs 22.6 t, so it pays for 84.1 revenue tons. A Bobcat S650 is 13 m³.

Containers are priced per box, so a machine that fits a 20′ or 40′ often ships for less than its volume would cost by RoRo. The reference table lists the eight machines this guide prices, with the size and methods each one uses.

Class	Reference model	L × W × H (m)	m³	Weight (kg)	Methods
Skid steer loader	Bobcat S650¹	3.45 × 1.83 × 2.06	13	3,900	Shared container · 20′ container · 40′ high cube · RoRo, driven or towed aboard
Mini excavator (5 t)	Cat 305 CR²	4.95 × 1.98 × 2.55	25	5,300	40′ high cube · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack
Backhoe loader	Cat 420²	7.2 × 2.35 × 3.75	63.5	8,000	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · 40′ high cube
20-ton excavator	Cat 320²	9.53 × 2.98 × 2.96	84.1	22,600	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · Breakbulk
Medium wheel loader	Cat 950 GC²	8.46 × 2.95 × 3.46	86.4	18,400	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · Breakbulk
Motor grader	Cat 140²	9 × 2.6 × 3.35	78.4	17,000	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · Breakbulk
Row-crop tractor (8R class)	John Deere 8R 370³	5.85 × 2.6 × 3.35	51	12,000	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · Breakbulk
Large dozer (D8 class)	Cat D8²	7.91 × 4.04 × 3.53	112.8	39,500	Breakbulk · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack

Sources^4,5

Flat racks and lost slots

A flat rack takes cargo up to 2.44 m wide inside the corner posts and about 30 t on a short footprint. Anything wider or taller than a high cube blocks the container slots beside or above it, and the carrier bills each lost slot, $650–900 apiece. A Cat 320 is over width and over height, so it costs 5 lost slots: $3,250–4,500 on top of the rack itself.

That is why a 20 t excavator to Nigeria costs about the same by flat rack (⁦$9,500–15,300⁩) as by RoRo (⁦$9,800–15,700⁩). Above 30 t, a Cat D8 at 39.5 t goes RoRo or breakbulk.

Machines against a 40′ high-cube flat rack^6,7,8

Machine	W × H, m	Weight, kg	Over width	Over height	Lost slots	Flat rack
Skid steer loaderBobcat S650	1.83 × 2.06	3,900	No	No	0	In gauge
Mini excavator (5 t)Cat 305 CR	1.98 × 2.55	5,300	No	Yes	1	Out of gauge
Backhoe loaderCat 420	2.35 × 3.75	8,000	No	Yes	1	Out of gauge
20-ton excavatorCat 320	2.98 × 2.96	22,600	Yes	Yes	5	Out of gauge
Medium wheel loaderCat 950 GC	2.95 × 3.46	18,400	Yes	Yes	5	Out of gauge
Motor graderCat 140	2.6 × 3.35	17,000	Yes	Yes	5	Out of gauge
Row-crop tractor (8R class)John Deere 8R 370	2.6 × 3.35	12,000	Yes	Yes	5	Out of gauge
Large dozer (D8 class)Cat D8	4.04 × 3.53	39,500	Yes	Yes	—	Too heavy: RoRo or breakbulk

Price by machine and region

The lowest port-to-port price for each machine in each region, with the method that gives it. The link under the table opens every country.

Each cell is the lowest-priced method for that reference machine to the region's featured destinations, from a U.S. East or Gulf Coast port: the range runs from the published "from" price to the typical high. Port-to-port; the importer's side is separate.^{9,4,10,11,12,13,14,15}

Reference machine	Central & South America	West Africa	UAE & Saudi Arabia	Australia
Skid steer loaderBobcat S650	⁦$1,200–1,900⁩Shared containerLowest in GuatemalaSeaway lane rate	⁦$1,900–2,800⁩Shared containerLowest in NigeriaSeaway lane rate	⁦$2,000–3,900⁩Shared containerLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$3,600–6,200⁩Shared containerModel estimate
Mini excavator (5 t)Cat 305 CR	⁦$3,000–3,900⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$3,700–5,600⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GhanaModel estimate	⁦$4,000–6,100⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$5,000–7,900⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
Backhoe loaderCat 420	⁦$3,900–6,000⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$5,500–9,100⁩40′ high cubeLowest in GhanaModel estimate	⁦$5,500–10,000⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$7,300–12,400⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
Row-crop tractor (8R class)John Deere 8R 370	⁦$3,400–5,200⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$6,200–10,100⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in NigeriaModel estimate	⁦$4,700–8,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$6,200–10,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
20-ton excavatorCat 320	⁦$5,100–7,700⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$9,400–15,100⁩40′ flat rackLowest in GhanaModel estimate	⁦$7,200–12,600⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$9,400–15,600⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
Medium wheel loaderCat 950 GC	⁦$5,100–7,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$9,400–15,100⁩40′ flat rackLowest in GhanaModel estimate	⁦$7,300–12,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$9,500–15,800⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
Motor graderCat 140	⁦$4,800–7,200⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$9,100–14,700⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in NigeriaModel estimate	⁦$6,700–11,900⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$8,800–14,700⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate
Large dozer (D8 class)Cat D8	⁦$6,900–10,200⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in GuatemalaModel estimate	⁦$13,100–21,000⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in NigeriaModel estimate	⁦$9,700–16,300⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardLowest in United Arab EmiratesModel estimate	⁦$12,500–20,100⁩RoRo, driven or towed aboardModel estimate

Every destination's equipment price, in one table

Which method each machine takes

Lagos shows the trade-offs. A skid steer shares a container. A backhoe with the hoe and cab guard off fits a 40′ high cube for ⁦$5,600–9,200⁩, against ⁦$6,900–11,700⁩ on a flat rack. A 20 t excavator is ⁦$9,500–15,300⁩ by flat rack, ⁦$9,800–15,700⁩ by RoRo and ⁦$12,600–21,500⁩ breakbulk. A Cat D8 rolls aboard for ⁦$13,100–21,000⁩.

Nigeria: port-to-port price by method^9,4,10,11

Reference machine	Shared container	20′ container	40′ high cube	40′ flat rack	RoRo, driven or towed aboard	Breakbulk
Skid steer loaderBobcat S650	⁦$1,900–2,800⁩lowest	⁦$3,200–4,800⁩	⁦$4,100–6,200⁩	Not a method for this size	⁦$3,800–5,000⁩	Not a method for this size
Mini excavator (5 t)Cat 305 CR	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	⁦$4,100–6,200⁩	⁦$6,900–11,700⁩	⁦$3,800–5,600⁩lowest	Not a method for this size
Backhoe loaderCat 420	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	⁦$5,600–9,200⁩lowest	⁦$6,900–11,700⁩	⁦$7,400–12,000⁩	Not a method for this size
20-ton excavatorCat 320	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	⁦$9,500–15,300⁩lowest	⁦$9,800–15,700⁩	⁦$12,600–21,500⁩
Medium wheel loaderCat 950 GC	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	⁦$9,500–15,300⁩lowest	⁦$9,900–16,000⁩	⁦$12,700–21,700⁩
Motor graderCat 140	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	⁦$9,500–15,300⁩	⁦$9,100–14,700⁩lowest	⁦$11,800–20,100⁩
Row-crop tractor (8R class)John Deere 8R 370	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	⁦$9,500–15,300⁩	⁦$6,200–10,100⁩lowest	⁦$8,200–14,300⁩
Large dozer (D8 class)Cat D8	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	Not a method for this size	Too heavy for this method	⁦$13,100–21,000⁩lowest	⁦$16,800–27,900⁩

What RoRo carriers accept

Wheeled machines that start, steer and brake drive aboard. Tracked machines drive on over protective mats or ride a roll trailer, and a machine that does not run goes on a roll trailer, billed extra.
The machine must be clean, free of leaks, with low fuel, the battery connected and the keys with the unit. Loose parts are welded, bolted or crated to the machine.
When a terminal has no ramp access for the unit, a mobile crane at the berth costs $750–2,400 for a 3–4 hour minimum.

Sources^4,10,16

Truck to the port and permits

Machinery travels on a step deck or, above about 21 t or 10′ tall, a removable gooseneck (RGN). A load wider than 8′6″ or taller than 13′6″ needs an oversize permit in every state it crosses, $30–470 each, roughly one state per 300 miles. Past 10′ wide, most states add a pilot car.

Truck from the pickup city to the export port^17,18,19

Pickup → port	Skid steer loader	20-ton excavator	Large dozer (D8 class)
Atlanta, GA → Savannah250 mi	⁦$800–1,000⁩Step deck	⁦$1,100–1,800⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit	⁦$1,600–2,300⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit · pilot car
Dallas, TX → Houston240 mi	⁦$800–1,000⁩Step deck	⁦$1,100–1,800⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit	⁦$1,500–2,300⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit · pilot car
Chicago, IL → Baltimore700 mi	⁦$2,000–2,800⁩Step deck	⁦$2,500–4,400⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit	⁦$3,700–5,800⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit · pilot car
Denver, CO → Houston1,030 mi	⁦$2,900–4,100⁩Step deck	⁦$3,700–6,300⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit	⁦$5,400–8,400⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit · pilot car
Kansas City, MO → Houston745 mi	⁦$2,100–3,000⁩Step deck	⁦$2,700–4,600⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit	⁦$3,900–6,100⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit · pilot car
Phoenix, AZ → Los Angeles / Long Beach375 mi	⁦$1,100–1,500⁩Step deck	⁦$1,700–2,900⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit	⁦$2,300–3,600⁩RGN / lowboy heavy hauloversize permit · pilot car

Sources^18,19

Dismantling and prep

Taking parts off can move a machine into a cheaper method. Reassembly at destination costs about the same as the dismantling, so count both before choosing the container.

Compact equipment (buckets, attachments, cab guards): $600–1,500.
Backhoe loader (hoe, stabilizers, cab guard) for a 40′ high cube: $1,500–3,000.
Excavator boom, stick and counterweight off: $5,000–12,000.
Loading, chaining and bracing in a container: $300–800.

Sources^2,9

Biosecurity: Australia, Chile and Peru

Used machinery has to arrive free of soil, seeds and plant material. An export wash to that standard costs $500–2,000 and is built into our prices for these countries. A machine that fails inspection is cleaned at the importer's cost or sent back.

Australia inspects every used machine on arrival under its import conditions, and it prohibits goods that contain asbestos. Older machines with asbestos gaskets, brake or clutch linings can be held for sampling, so have them tested before shipping.
Chile's SAG requires used farm, forestry and earthmoving machinery to be cleaned inside and out before it leaves, and inspects it at the port of entry. The importer pays for any treatment or re-shipment.
Peru's SENASA has required, since September 2024, that used agricultural machinery travel with a phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country declaring it cleaned and soil-free. In the U.S. that certificate comes from USDA APHIS.

Sources^15,20,21,22

Six worked examples, port to duty

Each example lists every line: ocean and port charges, prep, insurance, arrival handling and duty. The largest, a Cat D8 to Kazakhstan, starts at ⁦$10,900–17,000⁩ to Poti in Georgia; the road or rail leg onward is quoted per shipment.

Skid steer loader to Ghana

Bobcat S650 · 3.45 × 1.83 × 2.06 m · 13 m³ · 3,900 kg · Shared container · High confidence

Shipping side (our quote)

Shared container (lane rate)⁹	⁦$1,900–2,600⁩	Seaway lane rate
Port-to-port total	⁦$1,900–2,600⁩
Optional marine insurance at $30,000 declared	$525

Importer's side (paid at destination)

Arrival port handling and clearing agent⁦$900–2,200⁩Market benchmark

Duty and taxes at a CIF value of $32,400^23,24,25Confirm with your broker

HS 8429.52	Standard rate
Import duty 5%	$1,620
ECOWAS levy 0.5%	$162
AU levy 0.2%	$65
EXIM levy 0.75%	$243
Examination fee 1%	$324
NHIL 2.5% + GETFund 2.5%	$1,701
VAT 15%	$5,103
Duty and taxes	$9,218 (28.5%)

Duty and the ECOWAS, AU, EXIM and examination charges are all on CIF. Since January 2026, VAT (15%), NHIL and GETFund (2.5% each) share one base, CIF plus duty, instead of cascading. Machinery is exempt from the 2% special import levy; machinery for specified activities can be VAT-exempt, which the broker confirms per line.

Mini excavator (5 t) to Peru

Cat 305 CR · 4.95 × 1.98 × 2.55 m · 25 m³ · 5,300 kg · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · Medium confidence

Shipping side (our quote)

RoRo ocean freight by volume, BAF included^4,10,11,9	⁦$2,600–3,800⁩	Market benchmark
U.S. origin package^5,16,11Dock receipt, AES/EEI filing, title validation, documentation and supervision. Our container lane rates already include it.	⁦$700–1,200⁩	Carrier or port tariff
RoRo terminal: driven aboard + wharfage⁵Port Houston: $17.38 per metric ton driven plus $8.86 wharfage.	$200	Carrier or port tariff
Export wash to biosecurity standard¹⁵	⁦$500–2,000⁩	Market benchmark
Port-to-port total	⁦$4,000–7,200⁩
Optional marine insurance at $55,000 declared	$963

Importer's side (paid at destination)

Arrival port handling and clearing agent⁦$500–1,300⁩Market benchmark

Duty and taxes at a CIF value of $60,000^26,27Confirm with your broker

HS 8429.52	Standard rate	U.S.-built (U.S.-Peru TPA)
Import duty 0%	$0	$0 (0%)
IGV 16%	$9,600	$9,600
IPM 2%	$1,200	$1,200
IGV perception 5%, used goods (advance)collected in advance, credited later	$3,540	$3,540
Duty and taxes	$10,800 (18%)	$10,800 (18%)

Peru charges 0% duty on excavators; IGV and IPM total 18%. The perception is an advance on the importer's IGV, credited later: 5% for used goods, 10% on a first import or without an active RUC, 3.5% otherwise.

Row-crop tractor (8R class) to Australia

John Deere 8R 370 · 5.85 × 2.6 × 3.35 m · 51 m³ · 12,000 kg · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · Medium confidence

Shipping side (our quote)

RoRo ocean freight by volume, BAF included^{4,10,11,9,12,15}	⁦$4,600–7,200⁩	Market benchmark
U.S. origin package^5,16,11Dock receipt, AES/EEI filing, title validation, documentation and supervision. Our container lane rates already include it.	⁦$700–1,200⁩	Carrier or port tariff
RoRo terminal: driven aboard + wharfage⁵Port Houston: $17.38 per metric ton driven plus $8.86 wharfage.	$400	Carrier or port tariff
Export wash to biosecurity standard¹⁵	⁦$500–2,000⁩	Market benchmark
Port-to-port total	⁦$6,200–10,800⁩
Optional marine insurance at $250,000 declared	$4,375

Importer's side (paid at destination)

Arrival port handling and clearing agent⁦$900–2,400⁩Market benchmark

Duty and taxes at a CIF value of $260,600^28,15,29Confirm with your broker

HS 8701.9x	Standard rate	U.S.-built (AUSFTA)
Import duty 5%	$13,030	$0 (0%)
GST 10%	$27,363	$26,060
Duty and taxes	$40,393 (15.5%)	$26,060 (10%)

Wheeled agricultural tractors carry 5% MFN and enter free under AUSFTA with proof of U.S. origin; GST of 10% follows. Used tractors are steam-cleaned and inspected for soil on arrival.

Motor grader to Saudi Arabia

Cat 140 · 9 × 2.6 × 3.35 m · 78.4 m³ · 17,000 kg · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · Medium confidence

Shipping side (our quote)

RoRo ocean freight by volume, BAF included^{4,10,11,9,13,14}	⁦$5,500–8,700⁩	Market benchmark
U.S. origin package^5,16,11Dock receipt, AES/EEI filing, title validation, documentation and supervision. Our container lane rates already include it.	⁦$700–1,200⁩	Carrier or port tariff
RoRo terminal: driven aboard + wharfage⁵Port Houston: $17.38 per metric ton driven plus $8.86 wharfage.	$500	Carrier or port tariff
Port-to-port total	⁦$6,700–10,400⁩
Optional marine insurance at $180,000 declared	$3,150

Importer's side (paid at destination)

Arrival port handling and clearing agent⁦$700–1,600⁩Market benchmark

Duty and taxes at a CIF value of $189,900³⁰Confirm with your broker

HS 8429.52	Standard rate
Import duty 5%	$9,495
VAT 15%	$29,909
Duty and taxes	$39,404 (20.7%)

GCC common tariff of 5% on CIF, then 15% VAT. Used machinery needs a SABER shipment certificate before clearance.

Large dozer (D8 class) to Kazakhstan

Cat D8 · 7.91 × 4.04 × 3.53 m · 112.8 m³ · 39,500 kg · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · Low confidence

Shipping side (our quote)

RoRo ocean freight by volume, BAF included^4,10,11,9	⁦$9,100–14,700⁩	Market benchmark
U.S. origin package^5,16,11Dock receipt, AES/EEI filing, title validation, documentation and supervision. Our container lane rates already include it.	⁦$700–1,200⁩	Carrier or port tariff
RoRo terminal: driven aboard + wharfage⁵Port Houston: $17.38 per metric ton driven plus $8.86 wharfage.	$1,100	Carrier or port tariff
Port-to-port total	⁦$10,900–17,000⁩
Optional marine insurance at $350,000 declared	$6,125

Importer's side (paid at destination)

Arrival port handling and clearing agent⁦$700–1,800⁩Market benchmark

Duty and taxes at a CIF value of $367,000³¹Confirm with your broker

HS 8429.52	Standard rate
Import duty 0%	$0
VAT 16%	$58,720
Duty and taxes	$58,720 (16%)

EAEU common customs tariff on the customs value, then import VAT on value plus duty.

Medium wheel loader to Colombia

Cat 950 GC · 8.46 × 2.95 × 3.46 m · 86.4 m³ · 18,400 kg · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · Medium confidence

Shipping side (our quote)

RoRo ocean freight by volume, BAF included^4,10,11,9,12	⁦$3,900–6,100⁩	Market benchmark
U.S. origin package^5,16,11Dock receipt, AES/EEI filing, title validation, documentation and supervision. Our container lane rates already include it.	⁦$700–1,200⁩	Carrier or port tariff
RoRo terminal: driven aboard + wharfage⁵Port Houston: $17.38 per metric ton driven plus $8.86 wharfage.	$500	Carrier or port tariff
Port-to-port total	⁦$5,100–7,800⁩
Optional marine insurance at $140,000 declared	$2,450

Importer's side (paid at destination)

Arrival port handling and clearing agent⁦$450–1,100⁩Market benchmark

Duty and taxes at a CIF value of $147,600^32,33,29Confirm with your broker

HS 8429.52.00.00	Standard rate	U.S.-built (U.S.-Colombia TPA)
Import duty 5%	$7,380	$0 (0%)
IVA 19%	$29,446	$28,044
Duty and taxes	$36,826 (24.9%)	$28,044 (19%)

U.S.-origin excavators enter at 0% under the TPA with proof of origin; others pay the general rate, shown at 5% (Decree 272 of 2018 lists some capital goods at 0%). IVA of 19% applies on CIF plus duty. Under Decree 723 of 2014, every 8429 machine needs a prior import licence for used units, registration in RUNT and a working GPS unit.

Duty and taxes on machinery

Earthmoving machinery falls under HS 8429. Peru, Australia, Guatemala, Honduras, the Dominican Republic and Kazakhstan already charge 0% duty on it. Chile (6%) and Colombia (5%) drop to 0% for a machine built in the U.S. with a certificate of origin; one built elsewhere and bought in the U.S. pays the standard rate. VAT applies either way, though a registered business can usually reclaim it.

Duty and import taxes on a $150,000 CIF value

Country	Tariff line	Standard duty	U.S.-built	Taxes after duty	Total, standard	Total, U.S.-built	Status
Chile^34,29	8429.52	6%	0%U.S.-Chile FTA	IVA 19%	$39,210 (26.1%)	$28,500 (19%)	Read on the official tariff
Peru^26,27	8429.52	0%	0%U.S.-Peru TPA	IGV 16% · IPM 2%	$27,000 (18%)	$27,000 (18%)	Confirm with your broker
Australia^35,15	8429.52.10 / 8429.52.90	0%	0%AUSFTA	GST 10%	$15,000 (10%)	$15,000 (10%)	Read on the official tariff
Nigeria^36,37	8429.52	5%	no preference	Surcharge 7% of duty · CISS 1% of FOB · ECOWAS levy 0.5% · VAT 7.5%	$22,296 (14.9%)	—	Confirm with your broker
Ghana^23,24,25	8429.52	5%	no preference	ECOWAS levy 0.5% · AU levy 0.2% · EXIM levy 0.75% · Examination fee 1% · NHIL 2.5% + GETFund 2.5% · VAT 15%	$42,675 (28.5%)	—	Confirm with your broker
United Arab Emirates³⁸	8429.52	5%	no preference	VAT 5%	$15,375 (10.3%)	—	Read on the official tariff
Colombia^32,33,29	8429.52.00.00	5%	0%U.S.-Colombia TPA	IVA 19%	$37,425 (25%)	$28,500 (19%)	Confirm with your broker
Guatemala³⁹	8429.52	0%	0%CAFTA-DR	IVA 12%	$18,000 (12%)	$18,000 (12%)	Confirm with your broker
Saudi Arabia³⁰	8429.52	5%	no preference	VAT 15%	$31,125 (20.8%)	—	Confirm with your broker
Dominican Republic⁴⁰	8429.52	0%	0%CAFTA-DR	ITBIS 18%	$27,000 (18%)	$27,000 (18%)	Confirm with your broker
Honduras⁴¹	8429.52	0%	0%CAFTA-DR	ISV 15%	$22,500 (15%)	$22,500 (15%)	Confirm with your broker
Kazakhstan³¹	8429.52	0%	no preference	VAT 16%	$24,000 (16%)	—	Confirm with your broker

Sources²⁹

Buying from a dealer or an auction

Ask a dealer whether the price is at their yard or delivered to the port. A yard price leaves the truck, permits and loading to you. Auction buyers also pay a buyer fee and have a fixed window to remove the machine; the auction landed-cost guide prices both, country by country.

Prices in this guide come from our boat and machinery cost model, reviewed October 26, 2026, the same figures as the rate hubs and the calculator. They are port-to-port and per unit; duty and the importer's side are shown separately.

Sources

1. Bobcat S650 specifications, Bobcat (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
2. Caterpillar machine specifications, Caterpillar (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
3. John Deere 8R tractor specifications, John Deere (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
4. RoRo bunker adjustment factor and high & heavy surcharges, Wallenius Wilhelmsen (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
5. Port Houston Tariff No. 14: wharfage, dockage and heavy-lift charges, Port Houston (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
6. 40′ Flatrack High Cube: inside dimensions and payload, Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
7. Loading and lashing cargo on flatracks (over-width measurement), Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
8. Special cargo: flat racks, open tops and out-of-gauge acceptance, Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
9. Seaway Export lane rate card (destination pages), Seaway Export (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
10. RoRo surcharges and high & heavy acceptance, Höegh Autoliners (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
11. Vessel-operating common carriers: published tariffs, Federal Maritime Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
12. Yacht transport sailing schedule and pricing guidance, Sevenstar Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
13. Middle East and Red Sea situation: land bridge and booking status, Maersk (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
14. Customer Advisory 25-2026: Middle East situation update (UAE), CMA CGM (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
15. BICON: used machinery and vessel import conditions, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
16. Baltimore Marine Terminal Association tariff: RoRo receiving and crane charges, BMTA / Maryland Port Administration (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
17. National flatbed spot rates, DAT Freight & Analytics (Index), accessed October 26, 2026
18. Oversize and overweight load permits by state, Federal Highway Administration (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
19. Oversize/overweight permits: fees by dimension band, Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
20. Asbestos: prohibited import, sampling and testing, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
21. Resolución 3103/2016: phytosanitary requirements for used machinery, Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
22. RD 027-2024-MIDAGRI-SENASA-DSV: used agricultural machinery, SENASA (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
23. Primary import charges: duty, AU, ECOWAS and EXIM levies, exam fee, special import levy, Ghana Revenue Authority (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
24. VAT reforms 2026 (Act 1151): VAT, NHIL and GETFund on one base, Ghana Revenue Authority (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
25. Import duty, VAT, NHIL and GETFund levies, Ghana Revenue Authority (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
26. Arancel de Aduanas, IGV, IPM y percepción, SUNAT (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
27. Régimen de percepciones del IGV a la importación: 10%, 5% (bienes usados), 3.5%, SUNAT (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
28. Working Tariff: chapters 84, 87 and 89, Australian Border Force (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
29. U.S. free trade agreements: tariff schedules, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship heavy equipment overseas?

Port to port, from ⁦$1,900–2,600⁩ for a skid steer in a shared container to West Africa, ⁦$9,500–15,300⁩ for a 20 t excavator to Nigeria, and ⁦$10,900–17,000⁩ and up for a D8-class dozer to Poti, the gateway for Central Asia. Add the truck to the port, insurance, and duty at destination.

What is a revenue ton?

The unit RoRo and breakbulk freight is billed in: the greater of the weight in metric tons and the volume in cubic metres. Machinery is almost always billed on volume.

Is RoRo or flat rack cheaper for an excavator?

For a 20 t excavator they come out close: to Nigeria ⁦$9,500–15,300⁩ by flat rack and ⁦$9,800–15,700⁩ by RoRo. The flat rack pays for lost slots because the machine is over width; RoRo pays for its volume. Port access and sailing dates usually decide.

Can a skid steer ship in a container?

Yes. It fits a 20′ standard box with the bucket on the floor, ⁦$3,100–4,700⁩ to Ghana, or shares a container with other cargo for ⁦$1,900–2,600⁩.

What does a lost slot cost?

$650–900 per slot. Cargo over the width of the corner posts loses the slots on each side; cargo over high-cube height loses the slot above. A 20 t excavator on a flat rack loses 5.

Do I need a permit to truck my machine to the port?

Only if it is wider than 8′6″, taller than 13′6″ on the trailer, or overweight. Then each state on the route issues a permit, $30–470 each, and wide loads past 10′ usually need a pilot car.

Does my machine need to be washed before export?

For Australia, New Zealand, Chile and Peru, yes: to a biosecurity standard, free of soil and plant material, $500–2,000. Every buyer benefits from a clean machine, because inspectors anywhere can order cleaning at the importer's cost.

Is it worth dismantling a machine to fit a container?

For a backhoe, usually: $1,500–3,000 to dismantle brings it into a 40′ high cube at ⁦$5,600–9,200⁩ to Nigeria against ⁦$6,900–11,700⁩ on a flat rack, before reassembly. For a 20 t excavator, $5,000–12,000 each way rarely pays.

Will I pay duty on a used machine?

Duty and VAT are charged on the CIF value. Across the twelve markets in the duty table, duty on earthmoving machinery runs 0–6% and VAT or GST is the larger share. Some countries also restrict the age of imported used machinery; we check that when we quote.

Why do your prices run higher than some forwarders?

Our figures include the origin package, lashing, lost slots and the surcharges in force today, as a realistic range. Quotes that leave those out look cheaper and grow at invoicing. Compare line by line with the worked examples.