Shipping Heavy Equipment to China

The four ways to ship machinery to China

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 China

One carrier service in our trade lane guides calls in China. 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 China

U.S. exports to China 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 China

The most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty applied to each machine class, as a simple average of the national tariff lines under its HS subheading^[2]. 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: 8% of $100,000 CIF is $8,000 (HS 8429.52, 2023 tariff)^[2].

VAT: 13% of the duty-inclusive $108,000 is $14,040 (China Customs (GACC), checked June 2026)

Total duty and tax: $22,040, 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

Imported vehicles carry a 25% customs duty plus a consumption tax (1–40% by engine displacement) and 13% VAT. Qualifying RCEP-origin goods may receive a duty reduction. Machinery and project-cargo duties vary by HS code.

Source: General Administration of Customs of China (GACC), checked June 2026.

• Import duty: 25% of CIF (RCEP reductions may apply)
• VAT: 13%
• Other charges: Consumption tax 1–40% by engine size; machinery duty varies by HS code

Rules for used machinery in China

There is no age limit, but GACC inspects used machinery at the port and at destination. HS codes on GACC's list also need pre-shipment inspection by a GACC-filed body, and construction-machinery reports must give operating hours. Items in the MOFCOM/GACC 2018 No.106 catalogue are banned.

• Inspection: GACC Measures for Inspection of Imported Used Mechanical and Electrical Products (amended by GACC Order 243), Art. 5 and 7: port inspection and destination inspection apply. High-risk products on GACC's list must complete pre-shipment inspection before departure.^[5]
• Inspection: Measures Art. 11: for construction machinery, the pre-shipment report must list each unit's HS code, model, origin, engine/frame number, manufacture year, operating hours and maintenance records. Certificate must be in Chinese, usually valid six or twelve months.^[5]
• Conformity: GACC Announcement 2020 No.127: pre-shipment bodies must be filed with GACC (ISO/IEC 17020). Inspection assesses non-road mobile machinery emissions against mandatory limits, special-equipment licences or type tests, and energy-efficiency standards.^[6]
• Licence or permit: Products in the MOFCOM/GACC Announcement 2018 No.106 Catalogue of Prohibited Used M&E Products are banned. Key used M&E in the licence catalogue need an Import Licence, and automatic-licence goods need an Automatic Import Licence.^[7]
• Age limit: There is currently no service-life (age) limit for imported used equipment, but it must meet safety performance and basic usability requirements under China's mandatory technical regulations.^[7]
• Documents: Declare with the contract, invoice, packing list, bill of lading and any licences. For pre-shipment-listed goods, also file the pre-shipment certificate and report. Measures Art. 26: missing pre-shipment inspection means return, with fines up to RMB 1 million.^[5]

U.S. export controls

Diversion risk. China, including Hong Kong and Macau, named by BIS/OFAC/DOJ as a Russia transshipment point.^{[8][9][10][11][12]}

EAR99 heavy equipment normally needs no licence here, but reexport to Russia/Belarus of Supp. 4 items (8429, 8426, 8701, 8704) needs a BIS licence (§746.8(a)(5)). EAR §744.21 also requires a licence for Supp. 2 items for Chinese military end users; check Entity List. Screen all parties (CSL, SDN, Entity List); get end-user certification and no-Russia clause; red flags: forwarder as final consignee, third-country payer, onward routing.

Documents for China

The papers a machinery shipment to China 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
• CCC Certificate (if required)
• Equipment Specifications
• Import License (if applicable)

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.^[14][15]

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.^[16][17][15]

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.^[18]

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.^[19][20][21]

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

Clearance notes for China

Chinese New Year (late January–February) and Golden Week (early October) sharply reduce port and clearance throughput — plan around them.

• CCC certification (or an exemption letter) is mandatory for vehicles — uncertified units are impounded.
• Check the 2026 Import Licensing Catalogue (HS 87.03 restructured to 10-digit codes); used equipment and project cargo can require licensing.
• CCC certification and China 6 emissions compliance are strict gatekeepers.
• Used-vehicle import is limited to licensed entities; classification/licensing for used machinery is exacting.

Questions buyers ask

Export checklist (PDF)

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

Nearby destinations

• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Japan
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to South Korea
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Taiwan
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Vietnam

All destinations in Asia Pacific