Shipping machinery from the U.S. to Asia and the Pacific

How U.S. cargo reaches Asia and the Pacific

Japan and the rest of North Asia are closest from the West Coast. NYK’s RTW RoRo ships load at Port Hueneme, California and reached Yokohama in 12 to 17 days on the sailings listed in October 2026, with feeders onward to China, Korea and Australia^[1]. Hapag-Lloyd’s WC5 container service sails from Los Angeles and Oakland to Yokohama and Busan^[3], and its network runs direct from Oakland to Xingang and from Los Angeles to Ningbo and Yantian^[4].

Australia and New Zealand have a direct RoRo service from the East Coast. Höegh Autoliners loads at Baltimore and Jacksonville and crosses the Panama Canal to Auckland, Melbourne, Port Kembla and Brisbane; from Jacksonville, Auckland took 25 to 27 days and Melbourne 30 to 32^[2].

Southeast Asia and India had one direct RoRo voyage from the U.S. on these schedules: a Höegh ship that left Freeport, Texas round the Cape of Good Hope and reached Mumbai in 43 days and Singapore in 51^[2]. Most machinery for these markets goes by flat rack or container with a transshipment in a regional hub.

Published sailings from the U.S.

Each column is one carrier service. Days run from the ship’s call at the U.S. port shown to its arrival, across the voyages the schedule listed when we checked it. The container service publishes its port rotation, not transit days.

Which method for which machine

Biosecurity and U.S. export rules on this lane

Australia and New Zealand inspect every used machine for soil and plant material, and Australia adds a seasonal treatment for stink bugs. These rules decide when and how a machine is cleaned, so they come before the booking.

Brown marmorated stink bug season: AustraliaAustralian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Target high-risk goods shipped from the United States between 1 September and 30 April need mandatory treatment, judged by the shipped-on-board date. Flat rack, open top and breakbulk cargo must be treated before it leaves; if untreated, it is refused discharge or sent back. Heat treatment holds 56 °C at the coldest surface for 30 minutes, and for break bulk pieces under 6,610 lb (3,000 kg) 60 °C for 10 minutes.^[5]

Applies to: Machinery, vehicles, steel and other listed goods (HS chapters 84, 85 and 87 among them) shipped from the U.S. by sea, 1 September to 30 April

Used machinery cleanliness: AustraliaAustralian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Used machinery must arrive free of soil, seeds and plant or animal material, which can mean partly dismantling the machine to clean hollow and concealed sections. Every consignment is inspected on arrival; a machine with low contamination is re-cleaned at an approved site at the importer’s cost, and a heavily contaminated one can be ordered out of the country.^[7]

Applies to: Used machinery and parts shipped to Australia

Used machinery cleanliness: New ZealandNew Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries

Used machinery must be cleaned inside and out before shipping, and a cleaning certificate for used outdoor machinery reaches MPI before arrival. MPI expects to inspect on arrival, within 12 hours of unloading for breakbulk and open containers, and can require partial or full dismantling. If contamination cannot be removed, the machine may be reshipped or destroyed at the importer’s cost.^[8]

Applies to: Used vehicles, machinery and parts shipped to New Zealand

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][6][10]

Applies to: Used machines that drive: excavators, loaders, dozers, tractors, trucks

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.^[11][10]

Applies to: Any Schedule B line over $2,500, and every vehicle

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.^[12]

Applies to: Crates, skids, blocking and dunnage

Import rules by country

Duty, VAT and other charges as recorded in our country guides, with the authority that publishes them and the month we checked. Where an authority publishes a vehicle rate, that is the rate shown; duty on machinery follows its HS code and is confirmed before the machine ships.

Questions about shipping to Asia and the Pacific

Countries We Serve in Asia Pacific

• Australia
• China
• Japan
• South Korea
• Taiwan
• Mongolia
• New Zealand
• Indonesia
• Vietnam
• Thailand
• Malaysia
• Philippines
• Singapore
• Myanmar
• Cambodia
• Laos
• Brunei
• India
• Pakistan
• Bangladesh
• Sri Lanka
• Nepal
• Afghanistan
• Kazakhstan
• Uzbekistan
• Turkmenistan
• Kyrgyzstan
• Tajikistan