Shipping Heavy Equipment to El Salvador

The four ways to ship machinery to El Salvador

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.

What the U.S. ships to El Salvador

U.S. exports to El Salvador 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 El Salvador

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: 0% of $100,000 CIF is $0 (HS 8429.52, 2022 tariff)^[2].

IVA: 13% of the duty-inclusive $100,000 is $13,000 (Aduanas El Salvador, 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

El Salvador (which uses the US dollar) applies a Central American CET import duty plus 13% VAT (IVA) and a first-registration tax, with age limits on used vehicles.

Source: Dirección General de Aduanas (El Salvador), checked June 2026.

• Import duty: CET duty by type (confirm by HS code)
• VAT: IVA 13%
• Other charges: First-registration tax; age-based limits apply to used vehicles

Rules for used machinery in El Salvador

El Salvador bans imports of heavy cargo vehicles over 15 years old (light vehicles over eight). Agricultural and earthmoving (terracería) vehicles are exempt but must pass a technical inspection before registration. Customs needs an invoice, bill of lading, any import licence, and CAFTA-DR origin data.

• Age limit: Art. 34 bans imports of light passenger/cargo vehicles over 8 years, heavy passenger over 10, heavy cargo over 15. Exempt: agricultural and 'terracería industrial' vehicles, trailers. Exempt used vehicles need a technical-mechanical inspection to register.^[4]
• Documents: Customs (DGA) requires a commercial invoice, bill of lading and, when applicable, an import licence. DGA's online Tariff Query shows the duty, any required permit, and which agency issues it.^[5]
• Trade agreement: Under CAFTA-DR all U.S. industrial goods enter duty-free; the importer claims the preference on a written origin certification. It needs the certifier, HS code and description, origin basis and date; blanket certificates cover up to 365 days.^[6]

Documents for El Salvador

The papers a machinery shipment to El Salvador 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 El Salvador

• Acajutla is the main Pacific gateway; some cargo routes via Puerto Cortés (Honduras).
• Qualifying new US-origin vehicles may get CAFTA-DR preferential duty.

Questions buyers ask

Export checklist (PDF)

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

Nearby destinations

• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Guatemala
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Honduras
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Nicaragua
• US Export Operations - Heavy Equipment to the World

All destinations in Central America