Shipping Heavy Equipment to India

The four ways to ship machinery to India

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 India

U.S. exports to India 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 India

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: 7.5% of $100,000 CIF is $7,500 (HS 8429.52, 2023 tariff)^[2].

IGST: 18% of the duty-inclusive $107,500 is $19,350 (Indian Customs (CBIC), checked June 2026)

Total duty and tax: $26,850, or 27% 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

India's vehicle duties are among the world's highest, but used capital machinery is far more reasonable. New CBU cars carry roughly 60–110%+ effective duty (BCD + AIDC + IGST + cess) and used cars 125–165%; used industrial machinery is typically 7.5–10% basic duty plus 18% IGST on a depreciated value.

Source: CBIC / DGFT (Foreign Trade Policy), checked June 2026.

• Import duty: Cars ≈110–165%; used capital machinery 7.5–10% basic customs duty
• VAT: IGST 18% (28% + cess on cars)
• Other charges: AIDC and compensation cess apply to cars; used-machinery duty uses depreciated valuation (CBIC Circular 25/2015)
• Age limits: Used cars must be right-hand-drive, BS-VI compliant, and under 3 years from manufacture, imported only via Mumbai — practically limited to specialty / Transfer-of-Residence cases. Used machinery under 10 years is freely importable with a Chartered Engineer Certificate (5-year residual life); older than 10 years needs DGFT authorization.

Rules for used machinery in India

Under Foreign Trade Policy 2023 Para 2.31, second-hand capital goods such as construction machinery are freely importable without a DGFT licence (diesel generating sets excepted). Customs expects an overseas Chartered Engineer inspection/valuation report in Form A (CBIC Circular 07/2020).

• Licence or permit: Foreign Trade Policy 2023, Para 2.31 I(d): second-hand capital goods are 'Free', needing no DGFT authorisation. Exceptions requiring authorisation include desktop computers, air conditioners, diesel generating sets and notified electronics/IT goods.^[4]
• Conformity: FTP 2023 Para 2.31 I(c): refurbished or reconditioned spares of capital goods are 'Free' only with a Chartered Engineer certificate showing at least 80% residual life of the original spare.^[4]
• Inspection: CBIC Circular 07/2020-Customs (5 Feb 2020): used machinery should arrive with an overseas Chartered Engineer inspection/appraisement report (Form A) made at the place of sale. Otherwise a Customs-empanelled CE inspects in India (Form B).^[5]
• Documents: CBIC Circular 07/2020: customs checks the declared value against the Chartered Engineer report and against depreciated value under Circular 493/124/86-Cus VI. Pre-shipment inspection agency (PSIA) reports are no longer the basis for valuation.^[5]

U.S. export controls

Diversion risk. India named by BIS as a common transshipment point for goods diverted to Russia/Belarus.^[6][7][8]

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)). 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 India

The papers a machinery shipment to India 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
• IEC Registration
• BIS Certificate (if required)
• 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.^[9][10]

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.^[11][12][10]

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.^[13]

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.^[14][15][16]

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

Clearance notes for India

The monsoon (June–September) can affect west-coast port operations; plan project cargo around it.

• A licensed Customs House Agent (CHA) and an Import Export Code (IEC) are required.
• Used machinery needs a Chartered Engineer Certificate (CEC) for valuation and residual-life confirmation.
• Right-hand-drive, BS-VI, and the 3-year rule make used-car import impractical for most.
• Machinery is valued on a depreciated basis and requires a Chartered Engineer Certificate.

Questions buyers ask

Export checklist (PDF)

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

Nearby destinations

• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Bangladesh
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Sri Lanka
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Pakistan
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Nepal

All destinations in Asia Pacific