Shipping Heavy Equipment to Mexico

The four ways to ship machinery to Mexico

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 Mexico

3 carrier services in our trade lane guides call in Mexico. 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 Mexico

U.S. exports to Mexico 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 Mexico

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: 16% of the duty-inclusive $100,000 is $16,000 (Mexico SAT / ANAM, checked June 2026)

Total duty and tax: $16,000, or 16% 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

The extraordinary "autos chocolate" regularization ended on 31 December 2025 — used vehicles must now enter through the standard definitive-importation framework with a licensed customs broker. USMCA origin determines duty.

Source: SAT / Decreto (DOF) / USMCA, checked June 2026.

• Import duty: 1% for used light vehicles 5–9 model years in designated border zones; 10% for vehicles 10+ years (nationwide)
• VAT: IVA 16%
• Other charges: General Import Tax (IGI), ISAN (new-vehicle tax, with exemptions), and the DTA customs processing fee also apply
• Age limits: Used light-vehicle import is governed by a decree (extended to 30 November 2026) requiring a USMCA certificate of origin and compliance with physical-mechanical and environmental standards. Vehicles restricted/banned in the country of origin, non-compliant, or reported stolen may not be imported.

Rules for used machinery in Mexico

No age limit or used-goods permit found for excavators or loaders. Used road tractors and trucks need a Secretaría de Economía permiso previo. Importer must be in the Padrón de Importadores; claim USMCA duty-free status with a nine-data-element origin certification.

• Licence or permit: Secretaría de Economía permiso previo (Anexo 2.2.1) covers used vehicles, including used road tractors (8701.20.02, numeral 5), for definitive import. Used earthmoving machinery is not among the listed permit categories.^[6]
• Inspection: SADER/SENASICA (DGSV) regulates imports of used agricultural machinery (e.g. 8432 ploughs, 8433 harvesters, 'Únicamente: usadas'); phytosanitary requirements apply. Excavators (8429) and tractors (8701) are not listed.^[7]
• Documents: Importer must be in SHCP's Padrón de Importadores. File a pedimento de importación with a Spanish-language commercial invoice, bill of lading and, if applicable, NOM compliance documents; Carta Porte complement required since August 2023.^[8]
• Trade agreement: USMCA preference needs an origin certification with the nine minimum data elements. Importer, exporter or producer may issue it; no prescribed form. SAT conducts USMCA origin verifications, including site visits.^[8]

Documents for Mexico

The papers a machinery shipment to Mexico 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 (CUSMA)
• Pedimento (Import Declaration)
• NOM Certification (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

Importing into Mexico: importer registry and pedimentoANAM and SAT (Mexico)

The importer must be listed in SAT’s Padrón de Importadores, and in a sector registry for goods that have one, and clears the goods through a customs broker (agente aduanal) or an authorized customs representative. The pedimento is the import declaration; it goes with a Spanish commercial invoice, the bill of lading and any permits or NOM certificates, and since 1 January 2025 every declaration carries the importer’s RFC tax ID. Goods claiming USMCA preference need a certification of origin with nine minimum data elements, which the importer, exporter or producer may issue.^[17][8][18]

Applies to: Every commercial import into Mexico

Carta Porte for goods moving inside MexicoSAT (Mexico)

Goods moved within Mexico travel with a CFDI electronic invoice that carries the Carta Porte supplement, version 3.1 since 17 July 2024. For goods in foreign trade it has been enforceable since 1 January 2024, so the leg from the border or the port to the site needs one.^[19][8]

Applies to: Goods carried in Mexico by road, rail, sea or air, imports included

Clearance notes for Mexico

Gulf ports (Altamira/Veracruz) and land borders see peak-season congestion; plan around year-end manufacturing cycles.

• A licensed Mexican customs broker (agente aduanal) is required for the definitive import "pedimento".
• NOM compliance certificates apply to many machines and vehicles — confirm the specific NOM for your equipment before shipping.
• The 2025 end of the regularization program means informal/"chocolate" routes are now enforced against — only the formal framework is valid.
• USMCA origin certification is decisive for the preferential duty rate; missing paperwork raises the tariff.

Questions buyers ask

Export checklist (PDF)

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

Nearby destinations

• US Export Operations - Heavy Equipment to the World
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Canada
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Guatemala
• Shipping Heavy Equipment to Colombia

All destinations in North America