Shipping Heavy Equipment to Chile

The four ways to ship machinery to Chile

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 Chile

2 carrier services in our trade lane guides call in Chile. 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 Chile

U.S. exports to Chile 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 Chile

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: 6% of $100,000 CIF is $6,000 (HS 8429.52, 2023 tariff)^[3].

IVA: 19% of the duty-inclusive $106,000 is $20,140 (Servicio Nacional de Aduanas (Chile), checked June 2026)

Total duty and tax: $26,140, or 26% 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

New goods and machinery attract a 6% ad valorem duty on the CIF value — often 0% for qualifying US-origin goods under the US–Chile Free Trade Agreement — plus 19% VAT (IVA) on the CIF value plus duty.

Source: Servicio Nacional de Aduanas / SII, checked June 2026.

• Import duty: 6% of CIF; 0% for qualifying US-origin goods under the US–Chile FTA
• VAT: IVA 19%
• Other charges: An engine-displacement / luxury surcharge can apply to certain vehicles

Rules for used machinery in Chile

Used earthmoving and farm machinery is allowed but must be cleaned at origin and pass SAG inspection. Used road vehicles, including normal trucks, are banned by Ley 18.483, except off-road and special-use vehicles. U.S.-Chile FTA certificates of origin need no set format.

• Inspection: Used farm, forestry, gardening and earthmoving machinery must be cleaned inside and out at origin, disassembled if needed, and arrive free of soil, plant debris and pests. SAG inspects on arrival; the importer pays for treatment or reshipment.^[4]
• Age limit: Article 21 of Ley 18.483 bans imports of used vehicles. Exceptions include off-highway transport vehicles, concrete-mixer trucks, repair/workshop trucks, street-cleaning vehicles and similar special-use vehicles not used for transport as such.^[5]
• Trade agreement: For U.S.-Chile FTA preference, the importer must present on Customs' request a certificate of origin issued by the importer, exporter or producer. It carries the Annex 4 data and may cover identical shipments for up to 12 months.^[6]

Documents for Chile

The papers a machinery shipment to Chile 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
• Phytosanitary Certificate
• Equipment Technical Specifications
• Import Declaration (DIN)

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.^[7][8]

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.^[9][10][8]

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.^[11]

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.^[12][13][14]

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

Clearance notes for Chile

Andean mountain-pass routes can be affected by winter weather (June–August); mining-region project schedules drive seasonal demand peaks.

• New or eligible machinery of US origin can often enter duty-free under the US–Chile FTA with a valid origin declaration.
• Iquique (ZOFRI) is the standard gateway for cargo bound for Bolivia and Paraguay; goods are exempt from duty/VAT while they remain in the zone.
• The ban on used-vehicle imports into mainland Chile surprises many shippers — most used units route through ZOFRI.
• Andean and landlocked onward moves (Bolivia, Paraguay, Argentina) add overland legs and border formalities.

Questions buyers ask

Export checklist (PDF)

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

Nearby destinations

• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Peru
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Argentina
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Brazil
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Bolivia

All destinations in South America