Shipping Heavy Equipment to Argentina

The four ways to ship machinery to Argentina

Container, flat rack, RoRo and breakbulk, with where each one lands. RoRo availability is by U.S. coast; the other three are booked on the services that run when the cargo is ready.

Published sailings to Argentina

2 carrier services in our trade lane guides call in Argentina. Each row links to the carrier schedule it was read from; transit is from the U.S. load port to the port named.

What the U.S. ships to Argentina

U.S. exports to Argentina by machine class, 2025 against 2024, as reported by the United States to UN Comtrade^[1]. Units are as declared; the average is customs value divided by units.

A dash means the quantity was not reported for that year. Classes the U.S. did not ship here in either year are left out.

Import duty on machinery in Argentina

The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty applied to each machine class, as a simple average of the national tariff lines under its HS subheading^[3]. Preferential rates under trade agreements can be lower.

The range shows the lowest and highest line within the subheading; a dash means every line has the same rate.

Worked example: a $100,000 excavator

Import duty: 0.8% of $100,000 CIF is $800 (HS 8429.52, 2023 tariff)^[3].

IVA: 21% of the duty-inclusive $100,800 is $21,168 (Aduana Argentina (ARCA), checked June 2026)

Total duty and tax: $21,968, or 22% of CIF.

• Excise, port charges, broker fees and any registration tax are extra. The final rate depends on the exact tariff line your broker declares.

Vehicles and other taxes

Argentina (Mercosur) generally prohibits the import of used passenger vehicles, allowing only new vehicles and certain special-purpose or agricultural machinery. Import taxes on new vehicles are high and import licensing applies.

Source: Aduana / ARCA (Argentina), checked June 2026.

• Import duty: Mercosur CET (≈35% on extra-zone cars); machinery varies
• VAT: IVA 21%
• Other charges: Internal taxes, statistical fee, and import licensing apply

Rules for used machinery in Argentina

Decree 273/2025 scrapped the CIBU used-goods certificate. Used chapter 84–90 goods now need only a sworn declaration in SIM, unless their tariff position is listed in Annex II. Their duty is twice the extra-zone rate, capped at 35%. Used farm machinery needs a SENASA AFIDI.

• Licence or permit: Decree 273/2025 (in force April 17, 2025) eliminated the CIBU used-goods certificate. Importers now file a sworn declaration in ARCA's Malvina system that the goods are not waste (Ley 24.051) and not for energy recovery or disposal.^[5]
• Age limit: Used capital goods in chapters 84–90 are importable unless their tariff position appears in Annex II of Res. 909/1994, as updated by Decree 273/2025. Parts for permitted goods may enter on an extra sworn declaration.^[6]
• Age limit: Used motor vehicles remain non-importable under Decree 110/1999. Special-use vehicles (art. 7 f) now follow the Res. 909/94 used-goods regime instead of a prior authorization tied to local production.^[5]
• Inspection: Used agricultural machinery needs a SENASA Phytosanitary Import Authorization (AFIDI), obtained through SIGPV-IMPO before the transaction. SENASA checks the documents and physically inspects for cleanliness, freedom from soil and plant debris, and the required treatments.^[7]
• Documents: Sea shipments need an original commercial invoice plus three copies, in Spanish, hand-signed and bearing the Spanish sworn price declaration, plus a bill of lading, packing list and insurance certificate if applicable.^[8]

Documents for Argentina

The papers a machinery shipment to Argentina usually needs at destination. Your consignee and their customs broker confirm the list for the exact cargo.

• Commercial Invoice
• Packing List
• Bill of Lading
• Certificate of Origin
• SIMI Registration
• Import License (if required)
• Equipment Specifications

U.S. export rules

What every shipment from the U.S. has to clear before it sails, whatever the destination.

Electronic Export Information (15 CFR 30)U.S. Census Bureau

Electronic Export Information is filed in AES for each Schedule B number worth more than $2,500 going to one consignee on one conveyance, and for every vehicle whatever its value. For vessel cargo it is due at least 24 hours before loading; the Internal Transaction Number (ITN) goes to the carrier with the booking.^[9][10]

Applies to: Any Schedule B line over $2,500, and every vehicle

Used self-propelled vehicles: 72-hour ruleU.S. Customs and Border Protection

U.S. regulations count self-propelled construction and agricultural machinery as vehicles. A used one must be filed in AES at least 72 hours before export, whatever its value or destination, and the ITN, the VIN or serial number and the ownership documents go to CBP at the port of export. Filing after departure is not allowed.^[11][12][10]

Applies to: Used machines that drive: excavators, loaders, dozers, tractors, trucks

ISPM 15 wood packagingIPPC, administered in the U.S. by USDA APHIS

Wood packaging and dunnage must be heat-treated to a core temperature of 56 °C for at least 30 minutes, or fumigated, and carry the IPPC mark with the US country code, the facility number and HT or MB. Marked wood can be reused; repaired or remanufactured wood must be treated and marked again.^[13]

Applies to: Crates, skids, blocking and dunnage

Export classification under the EAR (ECCN or EAR99)BIS (U.S. Department of Commerce)

An item subject to the EAR is either listed on the Commerce Control List under an Export Control Classification Number (ECCN) or classified EAR99, the basket for items not listed. The ECCN’s reasons for control, read against the Commerce Country Chart, decide whether the destination needs a license. An EAR99 item rarely needs one, but no item, EAR99 included, may go to a person under a denial order or to a prohibited end use or end user without BIS authorization.^[14][15][16]

Applies to: Every export of goods subject to the Export Administration Regulations

Clearance notes for Argentina

• Buenos Aires and Zárate are the main gateways; Zárate handles most RoRo vehicle volume.
• Project cargo, agricultural and special machinery follow their own rules.
• Used cars effectively cannot be imported; new-vehicle taxes and import licensing are heavy — confirm eligibility first.

Questions buyers ask

Export checklist (PDF)

A one-page checklist with the facts on this page for shipping Argentina: methods, duty, rules and documents. Give it to your customs broker.

Nearby destinations

• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Brazil
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Chile
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Uruguay
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Paraguay

All destinations in South America