Shipping Heavy Equipment to Guatemala

The four ways to ship machinery to Guatemala

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 Guatemala

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

U.S. exports to Guatemala 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 Guatemala

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% of $100,000 CIF is $0 (HS 8429.52, 2023 tariff)^[3].

IVA: 12% of the duty-inclusive $100,000 is $12,000 (SAT (Guatemala), checked June 2026)

Total duty and tax: $12,000, or 12% 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

Guatemala applies an import duty (DAI, by engine/type under the Central American CET), 12% VAT (IVA), and IPRIMA (first-registration tax) on the SAT-assessed depreciated value. Salvage/junk-title vehicles are prohibited; EVs have 0% duty.

Source: Superintendencia de Administración Tributaria (SAT), checked June 2026.

• Import duty: DAI ≈10–20% of CIF (EVs 0%)
• VAT: IVA 12% (on CIF + duty)
• Other charges: IPRIMA first-registration tax ≈5–20% on the SAT depreciated value
• Age limits: Age-based tariff rises with vehicle age; salvage/junk-title vehicles are forbidden. SAT values on its official tables, not the purchase price.

Rules for used machinery in Guatemala

No official age limit, used-machinery permit or cleaning rule found for excavators. Guatemala's customs insist a CAFTA-DR Certification of Origin accompany the shipment to get duty-free treatment. Use the government's suggested form with the correct preference criterion (a/b/c).

• Trade agreement: Although CAFTA-DR does not require a certificate, Guatemala requires a CAFTA-DR Certification of Origin to accompany the shipment; use the Ministry of Economy (DACE) suggested form. A wrong criterion in box 7 gets the preference denied.^[5]
• Conformity: COGUANOR standards have been voluntary since December 2005; the Ministry of Economy's National Quality System sets standards. No machinery-specific mandatory mark is cited.^[5]

Documents for Guatemala

The papers a machinery shipment to Guatemala 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.^[6][7]

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.^[8][9][7]

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.^[10]

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.^[11][12][13]

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

Clearance notes for Guatemala

• A licensed customs agent files the DUCA; SAT values from its published tables.
• Puerto Quetzal (Pacific) and Santo Tomás (Caribbean) are the main gateways.

Questions buyers ask

Export checklist (PDF)

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

Nearby destinations

• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Mexico
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Honduras
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to El Salvador

All destinations in Central America