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Shipping machinery from the U.S. to Europe

Trade lane

Shipping machinery from the U.S. to Europe

Two RoRo operators sail direct from the U.S. East Coast to Europe: Atlantic Container Line every week from New York, Baltimore and Norfolk to Liverpool, Hamburg and Antwerp, and Grimaldi from Baltimore to Southampton, Antwerp, Bremerhaven and Valencia.

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days, Baltimore to Liverpool on ACL’s published transit times[2]
11
days, Baltimore to Antwerp on Grimaldi’s published sailings[1]
10–13
days, Baltimore to Valencia, the Mediterranean call on the same service[1]
13–20
AES filing lead time for a used self-propelled machine[3]
72 h

How U.S. cargo reaches Europe

Two RoRo operators publish direct sailings from the U.S. East Coast to Europe. Atlantic Container Line’s A Service sails weekly from New York, Baltimore and Norfolk to Liverpool, Hamburg and Antwerp, with fixed transit times: from Baltimore, 11 days to Liverpool, 14 to Hamburg and 17 to Antwerp[2]. Grimaldi’s MED/USA/MEX service loads at Baltimore for Southampton, Antwerp, Bremerhaven and Valencia[1].

The two suit different destinations. Liverpool is ACL’s first European call, which makes it the shorter sailing for Britain and Ireland[2]. Grimaldi reached Antwerp in 10 to 13 days from Baltimore, ahead of ACL’s 17, and is the one with a Mediterranean call[1].

Scandinavia is reached through Antwerp: ACL carries RoRo cargo on to Wallhamn in Sweden and Esbjerg in Denmark on a connecting service[2]. Neither service loads on the Gulf Coast, so a machine in Texas is trucked or railed to an East Coast port, or goes by flat rack or container.

Published sailings from the U.S.

Each column is one carrier service. ACL publishes one fixed transit time per port pair; Grimaldi’s days run from the ship’s call at Baltimore to its arrival, across the voyages its schedule listed when we checked it.

Map of U.S. load ports and destination portsU.S. load ports: Norfolk, Baltimore, Newark. Ports with a direct sailing: Liverpool, Southampton, Antwerp, Bremerhaven, Hamburg, Valencia. Ports without one: Wallhamn.NorfolkBaltimoreNewarkLiverpoolSouthamptonAntwerpBremerhavenHamburgWallhamnValencia
Solid line: RoRo serviceDashed line: container serviceOpen circle: no direct U.S. sailingSchematic. Port positions are approximate and lines show which ports a service links, not the ship’s track. Land: Natural Earth.
Published sailings from the U.S.
Destination portAtlantic Container Line[2]A ServiceRoRoGrimaldi[1]MED/USA/MEXRoRo
Loads atNewark, Baltimore, NorfolkBaltimore
Liverpool
  • 10 days from Norfolk
  • 11 days from Baltimore
No direct call
SouthamptonNo direct call
  • 9–12 days from Baltimore
Antwerp
  • 16 days from Norfolk
  • 17 days from Baltimore
  • 10–13 days from Baltimore
BremerhavenNo direct call
  • 13–16 days from Baltimore
Hamburg
  • 13 days from Norfolk
  • 14 days from Baltimore
No direct call
WallhamnNo direct callNo direct call
ValenciaNo direct call
  • 13–20 days from Baltimore
  • Atlantic Container Line: Weekly, with the carrier’s fixed transit times rather than dated voyages. New York RoRo cargo takes 13 days to Liverpool. Wallhamn in Sweden and Esbjerg in Denmark are served by RoRo through Antwerp.
  • Grimaldi: Southampton, Bremerhaven and Valencia are called on some voyages only. From Europe the ships go on through the Suez Canal to Jeddah and Aqaba.

Which method for which machine

Shipping methods to Europe compared
MethodUse it whenAvoid it when
RoRoThe machine drives or tows and is going to a port on the two RoRo services, or inland from one of them.The machine starts in the Gulf or on the West Coast and the truck or rail leg to the East Coast costs more than the RoRo saves.
Flat rackThe machine is wider or taller than a container door, within a flat rack’s payload, and loads at a port without a RoRo call.The load is concentrated on a short footprint: the carrier reduces the rated payload when the weight does not spread over the floor.
ContainerThe machine fits through a 7 ft 8 in (2.34 m) wide door, as most compact equipment does, or can be taken apart to fit.Taking it apart costs more than the flat rack or RoRo premium, or the buyer cannot reassemble it at destination.
BreakbulkA single piece is beyond flat rack and roll trailer limits, such as a transformer or a press frame.A RoRo sailing can take the piece on a roll trailer, which avoids lifting at both ends.

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. EU members share one customs tariff, so the duty on a machine is the same in every member state while the VAT rate differs; the United Kingdom sets its own. Duty on machinery follows its HS code and is confirmed before the machine ships.

Import rules by country
CountryImport dutyVATOther chargesPublished by
Germany10% of CIF for passenger cars (machinery varies, often 0–4.5%)Import VAT 19% (on value + freight + duty)Vehicles over 30 years old: duty-exempt and reduced 7% VAT. The EUR.1 preference does not apply to US-origin goodsGerman Customs (Zoll) / EU TARICchecked June 2026
United Kingdom~10% of landed value for cars (some commercial/pickups ~22%)Import VAT 20% (on value + shipping + duty)Vehicles over 30 years old may qualify for reduced VAT; first registration fee and Vehicle Excise Duty apply at the DVLAHMRC / DVLA (GOV.UK)checked June 2026
Netherlands10% of CIF (EU Common Customs Tariff; ≈4.5% on parts)21% (national import VAT)BPM CO2-based registration tax; classic vehicles 30+ years may get reduced VAT (≈9%) and duty reliefEU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) / Belastingdienstchecked June 2026
Belgium10% of CIF (EU Common Customs Tariff; ≈4.5% on parts)21% (national import VAT)Regional registration tax (BIV/TMC) on first registration; classic 30+ year relief may applyEU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) / FPS Financechecked June 2026
France10% of CIF (EU Common Customs Tariff; ≈4.5% on parts)20% (national import VAT)CO2/weight "malus" on first registration can be very high; classic 30+ year relief may applyEU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) / Douane françaisechecked June 2026
Spain10% of CIF (EU Common Customs Tariff; ≈4.5% on parts)21% (national import VAT)CO2-based registration tax (matriculación); classic 30+ year relief may applyEU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) / Agencia Tributariachecked June 2026
Italy10% of CIF (EU Common Customs Tariff; ≈4.5% on parts)22% (national import VAT)Provincial registration tax (IPT) and stamp duties on registration; classic 30+ year relief may applyEU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) / Agenzia delle Doganechecked June 2026
Poland10% of CIF (EU Common Customs Tariff; ≈4.5% on parts)23% (national import VAT)Excise duty on passenger cars (≈3.1% or 18.6% by engine size); classic relief may applyEU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) / Polish KASchecked June 2026
Sweden10% of CIF (EU Common Customs Tariff; ≈4.5% on parts)25% (national import VAT)CO2-based annual vehicle tax; classic 30+ year relief may applyEU Common Customs Tariff (TARIC) / Skatteverketchecked June 2026

U.S. export rules that apply on this lane

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.[4][3][5]

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.[6][5]

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

SOLAS verified gross mass (VGM)IMO

Since 1 July 2016 the shipper must give a signed verified gross mass for each packed container, found by weighing the packed unit or by adding the weighed cargo, lashing and dunnage to the container tare. The carrier needs it before the stowage plan is drawn up; without it the container is not loaded.[7]

Applies to: Every packed container, flat rack and open top

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.[8]

Applies to: Crates, skids, blocking and dunnage

Planning a sailing

ACL publishes fixed call days rather than dated voyages: Baltimore is a Friday to Saturday call, Norfolk a Sunday and New York Wednesday to Thursday[2]. Grimaldi publishes dated voyages, and on its schedule some skip Southampton or Bremerhaven[1], so check the voyage before you promise a port.

A used machine needs its AES filing 72 hours before export[3]. It should reach the terminal with its title or bill of sale before that window opens, not on the day of the cut-off.

Questions about shipping to Europe

How long does shipping take from the U.S. to Germany?

On ACL’s published transit times, Baltimore to Hamburg is 14 days and Norfolk to Hamburg 13. Grimaldi’s Baltimore to Bremerhaven sailings took 13 to 16 days. The truck or rail leg inland from the port comes on top.

Which U.S. port is best for shipping to the UK?

For RoRo, Norfolk or Baltimore on ACL: Liverpool is its first European call, 10 days from Norfolk and 11 from Baltimore. Grimaldi calls Southampton on some voyages, 9 to 12 days from Baltimore.

Is there a direct RoRo sailing from Texas to Europe?

Not on the two services shown here: both load on the East Coast. A machine in Texas goes by truck or rail to Baltimore or Norfolk, or by flat rack or container from a Gulf port.

Countries We Serve in Europe

Sources

Every figure on this page comes from the documents below, each checked on the date shown. Carriers and authorities revise them, so we confirm the current figure when we book.

  1. [1]Grimaldi Lines, MED/USA/MEX Service schedule (published 16 Oct 2026), checked October 18, 2026
  2. [2]Atlantic Container Line, Baltimore: A Service schedule and transit times, checked October 18, 2026
  3. [3]U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Exporting used self-propelled vehicles, checked October 18, 2026
  4. [4]eCFR, 19 CFR 192.1 Definitions (used self-propelled vehicles), checked October 18, 2026
  5. [5]U.S. Census Bureau, Foreign Trade Regulations FAQs, checked October 18, 2026
  6. [6]eCFR, 15 CFR 30.37 Miscellaneous exemptions (Foreign Trade Regulations), checked October 18, 2026
  7. [7]IMO, SOLAS verified gross mass requirement enters into force (1 July 2016), checked October 18, 2026
  8. [8]USDA APHIS, Export ISPM 15-compliant wood packaging material, checked October 18, 2026

Send us the machine and the destination

Give us the model or the measured dimensions and weight. We come back with the method, the sailing and a price, and the figures behind them.

Get a quoteor call +1 (888) 996-7619