Excavators

Excavator Shipping Overseas: Cost, Methods and Duty

What it costs to ship a 20-ton or a mini excavator from the U.S. by RoRo, flat rack, container or breakbulk, priced by region from our cost model, with the flat rack math, the cleaning rules and the duty in six markets.

By the Seaway Export logistics team Updated October 2026 8 min read

from ⁦$7,200⁩

CAT 320 by RoRo to the UAE

from ⁦$2,900⁩

Mini excavator by RoRo to the Dominican Republic

22,600 kg

CAT 320 operating weight

Size, weight and the methods that fit

A CAT 320 in transport position is 9.53 m long, 2.98 m wide over the tracks and 2.96 m tall, at 22.6 t. That is too wide for any container door, so it rolls aboard a RoRo ship on its own tracks, sits on a flat rack, or is lifted as breakbulk. Which one wins depends on the lane, not the machine.

A 5-ton CAT 305 CR is a different case: 1.98 m wide and 2.55 m tall, it clears a 40′ high cube door by about 4 cm with the boom folded. A 40′ to the Dominican Republic runs ⁦$3,200–4,900⁩, but RoRo is cheaper on most lanes, ⁦$2,900–3,900⁩ on the same route.

RoRo: the machine drives aboard; boom lowered, bucket on the deck, priced by its cubic metres.
Flat rack: craned onto a 40′ platform where RoRo does not call or costs more; out of gauge for anything over 2.44 m wide.
40′ high cube: mini excavators up to about 2.55 m tall with the boom folded and the blade down.

Class	Reference model	L × W × H (m)	m³	Weight (kg)	Methods
20-ton excavator	Cat 320¹	9.53 × 2.98 × 2.96	84.1	22,600	RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack · Breakbulk
Mini excavator (5 t)	Cat 305 CR¹	4.95 × 1.98 × 2.55	25	5,300	40′ high cube · RoRo, driven or towed aboard · 40′ flat rack

Sources^1,2

Price by region

Each column shows the cheapest method into that region. A short Gulf Coast lane sets the Central & South America column, a CAT 320 from ⁦$5,100⁩ to Guatemala; the UAE starts at ⁦$7,200⁩. West Africa costs more, and our model never quotes a 20-ton excavator to Lagos or Tema below the $9,000 RoRo benchmark for that trade.

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.^{3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10}

Reference machine	Central & South America	West Africa	UAE & Saudi Arabia	Australia
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
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

Every destination's equipment price, in one table

Sources^4,5

Every method on one lane

Lagos is one of the few lanes where a flat rack edges out RoRo for a 20-ton excavator: ⁦$9,500–15,300⁩ against ⁦$9,800–15,700⁩. Both are well under breakbulk, so the choice usually comes down to the sailing date. A mini excavator is the reverse: RoRo at ⁦$3,800–5,600⁩ beats a 40′ box.

Nigeria: port-to-port price by method^3,4,5,6

Reference machine	40′ high cube	40′ flat rack	RoRo, driven or towed aboard	Breakbulk
20-ton excavatorCat 320	Not a method for this size	⁦$9,500–15,300⁩lowest	⁦$9,800–15,700⁩	⁦$12,600–21,500⁩
Mini excavator (5 t)Cat 305 CR	⁦$4,100–6,200⁩	⁦$6,900–11,700⁩	⁦$3,800–5,600⁩lowest	Not a method for this size

Sources¹¹

Flat rack fit

A 40′ flat rack carries 2.44 m of width and 2.25 m of height above its deck before the cargo blocks the next slot. The CAT 320 is 54 cm over in width and 71 cm over in height, so it takes the space of the stack beside and above it, and the carrier charges for those lost slots. The mini excavator stays inside the width and loses only the slot above.

Machines against a 40′ high-cube flat rack^2,12,13

Machine	W × H, m	Weight, kg	Over width	Over height	Lost slots	Flat rack
Mini excavator (5 t)Cat 305 CR	1.98 × 2.55	5,300	No	Yes	1	Out of gauge
20-ton excavatorCat 320	2.98 × 2.96	22,600	Yes	Yes	5	Out of gauge

Sources^2,12

Preparing it for the ship

1
Wash it soil-free
Australia, Chile and Peru inspect used earthmoving machinery for soil and plant debris on arrival. Pressure-wash the tracks, rollers, belly pans and radiator at origin; a dirty machine is cleaned or sent back at the importer's cost.
2
Set the transport position
Boom lowered, bucket curled onto the deck, cylinders pinned and the swing lock on. That is the height the carrier measures, so measure it yourself before booking.
3
Fix the leaks
RoRo terminals inspect high-and-heavy units at receipt and can refuse one that drips oil, hydraulic fluid or fuel. A leaking hose costs less to fix at home than a missed sailing.
4
List every attachment
Spare buckets, thumbs and breakers go on the invoice with serial numbers and are lashed beside the machine or crated. Any machine worth more than $2,500 needs an EEI filing before it sails.

Sources^14,15,16,17

Where they ship and what it costs

Mining keeps Chile and Peru buying 20-ton class excavators, Nigerian and Ghanaian contractors buy U.S. auction machines, the UAE re-exports across the Gulf, and Australia buys in volume but inspects every used unit for soil.

20-ton excavator: lowest-priced method by destination

Nigeria^{4,5,6,3,18,19}⁦$9,500–15,300⁩by 40′ flat rackDuty 5%Country guide Price this route
Ghana^{4,5,6,3,20,21,22}⁦$9,400–15,100⁩by 40′ flat rackDuty 5%Country guide Price this route
Chile^{4,5,6,3,23,24}⁦$10,300–16,500⁩by RoRo, driven or towed aboardDuty 6% · 0% U.S.-built (U.S.-Chile FTA)Country guide Price this route
Peru^{4,5,6,3,25,26}⁦$10,000–17,100⁩by 40′ flat rackDuty 0% · 0% U.S.-built (U.S.-Peru TPA)Country guide Price this route
United Arab Emirates^{4,5,6,3,8,9,27}⁦$7,200–12,600⁩by RoRo, driven or towed aboardDuty 5%Country guide Price this route
Australia^{4,5,6,3,7,10,28}⁦$9,400–15,600⁩by RoRo, driven or towed aboardDuty 0% · 0% U.S.-built (AUSFTA)Country guide Price this route

Sources²⁹

Duty and import taxes

On a ⁦$150,000⁩ CIF excavator the import bill ranges from ⁦$15,000⁩ in Australia, where excavators are Free and only 10% GST applies, to ⁦$42,675⁩ in Ghana once the ECOWAS, AU and EXIM levies and VAT are stacked. In Chile a U.S.-built machine with an FTA certificate of origin pays ⁦$28,500⁩ instead of ⁦$39,210⁩.

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
Nigeria^18,19	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^20,21,22	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
Chile^23,24	8429.52	6%	0%U.S.-Chile FTA	IVA 19%	$39,210 (26.1%)	$28,500 (19%)	Read on the official tariff
Peru^25,26	8429.52	0%	0%U.S.-Peru TPA	IGV 16% · IPM 2%	$27,000 (18%)	$27,000 (18%)	Confirm with your broker
United Arab Emirates²⁷	8429.52	5%	no preference	VAT 5%	$15,375 (10.3%)	—	Read on the official tariff
Australia^28,10	8429.52.10 / 8429.52.90	0%	0%AUSFTA	GST 10%	$15,000 (10%)	$15,000 (10%)	Read on the official tariff

Sources^28,20,30

Specs and loading records

Our project cargo site keeps the dimensions and loading records by excavator type, including wheeled and long-reach demolition machines we do not price here.

Specifications, loading records and engineering for these machines are on our project cargo site, Seaway Project Cargo (English):

Prices on this page 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. Caterpillar machine specifications, Caterpillar (Manufacturer), accessed October 26, 2026
2. 40′ Flatrack High Cube: inside dimensions and payload, Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
3. Seaway Export lane rate card (destination pages), Seaway Export (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
4. RoRo bunker adjustment factor and high & heavy surcharges, Wallenius Wilhelmsen (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
5. RoRo surcharges and high & heavy acceptance, Höegh Autoliners (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
6. Vessel-operating common carriers: published tariffs, Federal Maritime Commission (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
7. Yacht transport sailing schedule and pricing guidance, Sevenstar Yacht Transport (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
8. Middle East and Red Sea situation: land bridge and booking status, Maersk (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
9. Customer Advisory 25-2026: Middle East situation update (UAE), CMA CGM (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
10. BICON: used machinery and vessel import conditions, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
11. North America – West Africa RoRo service schedule, Grimaldi Lines (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
12. Loading and lashing cargo on flatracks (over-width measurement), Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
13. Special cargo: flat racks, open tops and out-of-gauge acceptance, Hapag-Lloyd (Specialist carrier), accessed October 26, 2026
14. Cleanliness requirements for imported machinery, equipment and spare parts, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
15. Resolución 3103/2016: phytosanitary requirements for used machinery, Servicio Agrícola y Ganadero (SAG) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
16. RD 027-2024-MIDAGRI-SENASA-DSV: used agricultural machinery, SENASA (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
17. Foreign Trade Regulations, 15 CFR 30.37(a): EEI filing exemption for $2,500 or less per Schedule B number, eCFR (U.S. Census Bureau rules) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
18. ECOWAS CET 2022–2026 and import levies, Nigeria Customs Service (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
19. Nigeria announces 2026 fiscal and trade policy changes (CET national list, IAT), USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
20. Primary import charges: duty, AU, ECOWAS and EXIM levies, exam fee, special import levy, Ghana Revenue Authority (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
21. VAT reforms 2026 (Act 1151): VAT, NHIL and GETFund on one base, Ghana Revenue Authority (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
22. Import duty, VAT, NHIL and GETFund levies, Ghana Revenue Authority (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
23. Arancel Aduanero y TLC Chile–Estados Unidos, Servicio Nacional de Aduanas de Chile (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
24. U.S. free trade agreements: tariff schedules, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
25. Arancel de Aduanas, IGV, IPM y percepción, SUNAT (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
26. Régimen de percepciones del IGV a la importación: 10%, 5% (bienes usados), 3.5%, SUNAT (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
27. GCC Common Customs Tariff and VAT on imports, UAE Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
28. Schedule 3, chapter 84: 8429.11 to 8429.59 rates, Australian Border Force (Tariff), accessed October 26, 2026
29. U.S. exports by partner across 15 heavy-machinery classes, 2024 and 2025 (UN Comtrade data), World Bank WITS (Official), accessed October 26, 2026
30. Resolución 342/2015: certificate of origin under the Chile–U.S. FTA, Servicio Nacional de Aduanas (BCN Ley Chile) (Official), accessed October 26, 2026

Download the full model as open data

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship an excavator to Nigeria?

A CAT 320 runs ⁦$9,500–15,300⁩ on a flat rack or ⁦$9,800–15,700⁩ by RoRo, port to port. Duty, levies and VAT on a ⁦$150,000⁩ CIF machine add ⁦$22,296⁩, and the importer must open a Form M before it sails.

Will a mini excavator fit in a container?

A 5-ton class machine like the CAT 305 CR does, in a 40′ high cube, with the boom folded and the blade down: 2.55 m against a 2.59 m door. Check your machine's transport height; a cab guard or a tall canopy can push it over.

Does the bucket have to come off?

No. By RoRo or flat rack the bucket stays on, curled and resting on the deck. Spare buckets and attachments ship lashed beside the machine or crated, each listed on the invoice.

Is a U.S.-built excavator duty-free in Chile?

Duty-free, yes, with a certificate of origin under the U.S.–Chile FTA; it still pays 19% IVA, ⁦$28,500⁩ on ⁦$150,000⁩ CIF. A machine built in Japan or Europe pays 6% duty on top, ⁦$39,210⁩.

Does Australia need anything extra?

Yes. Every used machine is inspected for soil and seeds on arrival, and machinery shipped from the U.S. between September 1 and April 30 needs brown marmorated stink bug treatment; on a flat rack or breakbulk that is done before loading.