Destination guide
Shipping Heavy Equipment to Costa Rica
In 2025 the United States reported exporting 362 machines worth $10.3 million to Costa Rica in the 15 classes we track, down 14% on 2024. The fastest published sailing is NYK RORO from Newark to Puerto Limón, 10–13 days. RoRo service: Regular from the East and Gulf Coast, limited from the West Coast. Duty and VAT on a $100,000 CIF excavator come to $13,000, or 13% of its value.
The four ways to ship machinery to Costa Rica
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.
| Method | From the U.S. | Where it lands, and conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Container | Booked on request | Container ports: Port of Limón/Moín, Port of Caldera. No schedule we track lists a direct call, so the carrier and any transshipment are confirmed at booking. |
| Flat rack | Booked on request | For machines too wide or tall for a closed box, on container lines that accept out-of-gauge cargo. Discharge at Port of Limón/Moín, Port of Caldera, subject to the terminal taking flat racks. |
| RoRo | Regular from the East and Gulf Coast, limited from the West Coast | Published services: NYK RORO USGX[2]. RoRo ports: Port of Limón/Moín, Port of Caldera. |
| Breakbulk | Liner breakbulk or charter | For cargo too large or heavy for a flat rack, loaded by ship or shore crane. Breakbulk and heavy-lift ports: Port of Limón/Moín, Port of Caldera. |
Published sailings to Costa Rica
One carrier service in our trade lane guides calls in Costa Rica. Each row links to the carrier schedule it was read from; transit is from the U.S. load port to the port named.
| Carrier and service | Method | Loads in the U.S. | Calls here, with published transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| NYK RORO[2]USGX | RoRo | Jacksonville, Baltimore, Newark |
|
What the U.S. ships to Costa Rica
U.S. exports to Costa Rica 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.
| Machine class | Units 2025 | Units 2024 | Change in units | Value 2025 | Average per unit[1] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Forklifts and telehandlers | 119 | 111 | +7% | $3.3 million | $27.7 thousand |
| Diesel generator sets | 8 | 17 | −53% | $953 thousand | $119 thousand |
| Backhoes and other excavating machines | 28 | 29 | −3% | $929 thousand | $33.2 thousand |
| Off-highway dump trucks | 112 | 115 | −3% | $912 thousand | $8,141 |
| Crawler tractors | 9 | 1 | +800% | $755 thousand | $83.9 thousand |
| Crawler dozers | 9 | 16 | −44% | $747 thousand | $83 thousand |
| Wheeled tractors | 21 | 62 | −66% | $714 thousand | $34 thousand |
| Wheel loaders | 16 | 33 | −52% | $525 thousand | $32.8 thousand |
| Excavators | 14 | 15 | −7% | $499 thousand | $35.6 thousand |
| Crawler and rough-terrain cranes | 5 | 3 | +67% | $413 thousand | $82.5 thousand |
| Crushers | 14 | 11 | +27% | $206 thousand | $14.7 thousand |
| Self-propelled drill rigs | 2 | 4 | −50% | $150 thousand | $75 thousand |
| Motor graders | 2 | 2 | 0% | $105 thousand | $52.5 thousand |
| Combine harvesters | 3 | 2 | +50% | $46.3 thousand | $15.4 thousand |
| Truck-mounted cranes | 0 | 2 | – | $0 | – |
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 Costa Rica
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.
| Machine class | HS subheading | MFN applied duty | Range across lines | Tariff year[3] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excavators | 8429.52 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Wheel loaders | 8429.51 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Crawler dozers | 8429.11 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Motor graders | 8429.20 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Backhoes and other excavating machines | 8429.59 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Crawler and rough-terrain cranes | 8426.41 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Forklifts and telehandlers | 8427.20 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Off-highway dump trucks | 8704.10 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Wheeled tractors | 8701.93 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Crawler tractors | 8701.30 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Combine harvesters | 8433.51 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Self-propelled drill rigs | 8430.41 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Crushers | 8474.20 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Diesel generator sets | 8502.13 | 0% | – | 2023 |
| Truck-mounted cranes | 8705.10 | 14% | – | 2023 |
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% of $100,000 CIF is $0 (HS 8429.52, 2023 tariff)[3].
VAT: 13% of the duty-inclusive $100,000 is $13,000 (Ministerio de Hacienda (Costa Rica), checked June 2026)
Total duty and tax: $13,000, or 13% 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
Costa Rica taxes vehicles as luxury goods: the combined import tax (consumption tax + sales tax + Law 6946) effectively runs from roughly 52% to 79% of the customs-assessed value, scaling with age. Newly approved residents can use a one-time tax-free import under Law 9996.
Source: Ministerio de Hacienda / Aduanas (Costa Rica), checked June 2026.
- Import duty: ≈52% (<3 yrs), ≈63% (4–5 yrs), ≈79% (6+ yrs) of assessed value
- VAT: Included in the combined tax stack (VAT 13%)
- Other charges: Law 9996 one-time exemption for new residents within 6 months of approval
Rules for used machinery in Costa Rica
No official age limit or used-machinery licence found. Costa Rica's plant-protection law bans soil imports, and the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) inspects at entry, so ship equipment pressure-washed and soil-free. The importer claims CAFTA-DR preference with origin certification data.
- Inspection: Ley 7664 de Protección Fitosanitaria, Art. 50, prohibits importing soil or bringing it in transit (only lab samples allowed). The State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) inspects regulated articles at entry and can retain, treat or reject them.[4]
- Documents: Imports are registered by the Central Bank of Costa Rica for statistical purposes. The Costa Rica guide lists no special licence for machinery; licences apply to arms, pharmaceuticals and some chemicals.[5]
- Trade agreement: CAFTA-DR applies. The importer claims the preference based on a written origin certification. It needs the certifier, HS code and description, origin basis and date; a blanket certificate may cover up to 365 days.[6]
Documents for Costa Rica
The papers a machinery shipment to Costa Rica 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 (CAFTA)
- Import Declaration
- 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.[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 Costa Rica
- Customs values on its own assessment, not your purchase price.
- Limón/Moín on the Caribbean is the main vehicle gateway.
- Among the world’s highest vehicle taxes (52–79%) — importing rarely beats buying locally unless you qualify for the Law 9996 exemption.
Questions buyers ask
How much heavy equipment does the U.S. ship to Costa Rica?
U.S. exporters reported 362 machines worth $10.3 million to Costa Rica in 2025 across 15 machine classes, down 14% on 2024. The largest class by value was forklifts and telehandlers, at $3.3 million. Figures are U.S. export declarations reported to UN Comtrade.
How long does shipping from the U.S. to Costa Rica take?
The fastest sailing in the carrier schedules we track is NYK RORO (USGX) from Newark to Puerto Limón: 10–13 days. It is the only published service calling here; inland delivery and customs clearance come on top.
Can I ship machinery to Costa Rica by RoRo?
RoRo service: Regular from the East and Gulf Coast, limited from the West Coast. RoRo suits machines that drive or tow on board. Ports that take RoRo cargo: Port of Limón/Moín, Port of Caldera. Where RoRo does not run, machines ship on flat racks or as breakbulk.
What duty and VAT apply to a used excavator in Costa Rica?
The MFN duty on excavators averages 0% of CIF, and VAT is 13% on the duty-inclusive value. On a $100,000 CIF excavator that comes to $13,000 before excise, port and broker charges.
Which rules apply to used machinery in Costa Rica?
No official age limit or used-machinery licence found. Costa Rica's plant-protection law bans soil imports, and the State Phytosanitary Service (SFE) inspects at entry, so ship equipment pressure-washed and soil-free. The importer claims CAFTA-DR preference with origin certification data.
Which documents do I need to ship to Costa Rica?
A shipment to Costa Rica usually needs: Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Bill of Lading, Certificate of Origin (CAFTA), Import Declaration, Equipment Specifications. From the U.S., the export filing (EEI) goes in before loading, and titled machines need their title at the port 72 hours before export.
Export checklist (PDF)
A one-page checklist with the facts on this page for shipping Costa Rica: methods, duty, rules and documents. Give it to your customs broker.
Download the checklistSources
Every figure on this page comes from the documents below, each checked on the date shown. Carriers and authorities revise them, so we confirm the current figure when we book.
- [1]World Bank WITS, UN Comtrade: exports reported by the United States, checked October 18, 2026
- [2]NYK RORO, USGX schedule: U.S. East Coast to Colombia, Panama, Mexico and Central America (week 42, 13 Oct 2026), checked October 18, 2026
- [3]UNCTAD TRAINS via World Bank WITS: MFN applied tariff, checked October 18, 2026
- [4]Procuraduría General (SCIJ) - Ley N° 7664 de Protección Fitosanitaria, checked October 2026
- [5]ITA (trade.gov) - Costa Rica Country Commercial Guide: Import Requirements and Documentation, checked October 2026
- [6]ITA (trade.gov) - FTA Certificates of Origin, checked October 2026
- [7]eCFR, 15 CFR 30.37 Miscellaneous exemptions (Foreign Trade Regulations), checked October 18, 2026
- [8]U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Regulations FAQs, checked October 18, 2026
- [9]eCFR, 19 CFR 192.1 Definitions (used self-propelled vehicles), checked October 18, 2026
- [10]U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Exporting used self-propelled vehicles, checked October 18, 2026
- [11]USDA APHIS, Export ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging material, checked October 18, 2026
- [12]eCFR, 15 CFR 734.3 Items subject to the EAR (EAR99), checked October 18, 2026
- [13]eCFR, 15 CFR 738.4 Determining whether a license is required, checked October 18, 2026
- [14]eCFR, 15 CFR 732.3 Steps regarding the ten general prohibitions, checked October 18, 2026
Send us the machine and the destination
Give us the model or the measured dimensions and weight. We come back with the method, the sailing and a price, and the figures behind them.