From our yard
to your port.
We coordinate export documents, customs clearance, port loading, and sea freight for used excavators and construction machinery — by FCL container, flat rack, open top, or break bulk vessel from Shanghai to ports worldwide.
Loaded · Shanghai- Origin
- Shanghai · CN
- Methods
- FCL / FR / OT / BB
- Docs
- Full export set
- Transit
- 20–45 days
Sailing regions · typical transit
SE Asia
7–14 d
Middle East
18–25 d
Africa
25–40 d
Europe
28–38 d
Americas
25–45 d
Sealed container,
full protection
FCL (Full Container Load) is the most common and cost-effective way to ship smaller used machines. The equipment is driven or forklifted into a standard 20- or 40-foot container, blocked and lashed inside, and shipped as a single sealed consignment.
A closed container gives full protection from weather, seawater, and handling damage — ideal for mini excavators, compact loaders, small rollers, attachments, and spare parts.
- Best for
- Mini excavators 1–6 t, loaders, parts
- Equipment
- 20'GP / 40'GP / 40'HQ
- Loading
- Forklift or ramp · 1–2 h
- Docs
- B/L, packing list, invoice, customs
Real loading · our yard
Lashed on flat rackCraned in from above,
chained to the rack
Flat rack and open topcontainers carry machines that exceed standard container height or width — the most common solution for standard-sized excavators.
Open tops have a removable tarpaulin roof so tall machines crane in from above. Flat racks have collapsible ends and no side walls — ideal for wide or long equipment such as bulldozers, wheel loaders, and 12–30 ton excavators. The machine is chained and chocked to the rack, then sails on regular liner routes.
- Best for
- 8–30 t excavators, dozers, graders
- Equipment
- 20'OT / 40'OT / 20'FR / 40'FR
- Loading
- Crane lift · chained & chocked
- Transit
- Same liner routes as FCL
No container.
No dimension limits.
Break bulk is for machines that don't fit in any container — large excavators (30 ton+), heavy bulldozers, crane booms — or for shipping several machines together as one cargo lot.
Each machine is lifted aboard individually by the ship's crane, stowed on deck or in the hold, secured with lashing chains and wooden chocks, and covered with tarpaulin where needed.
It's also cost-effective for multi-unit orders: several machines to the same destination sail on one vessel under a single bill of lading.
- Best for
- 30 t+ machines, multi-unit lots
- Loading
- Ship's crane / harbor crane
- Consolidation
- Many machines · one B/L
- Transit
- 20–45 days by route
Cargo hold stowage
Crane loading
Tarpaulin & lashingDeck stowage · chocked & chainedWhich method fits
your machine?
| Method | Size | Protection | Cost | Loading | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A · FCL | 1–6 t | ●●●●● | $ | Forklift / ramp | Small machines, single units |
| B · FR / OT | 8–30 t | ●●●●○ | $$ | Crane lift | Standard excavators, dozers |
| C · Break bulk | 30 t+ | ●●●○○ | $$$ | Ship / harbor crane | Oversized, multi-unit lots |
Commercial Invoice
Machine description, value, HS code, and terms of sale.
Packing List
Itemized dimensions, weight, and marks for every item.
Bill of Lading
Ocean B/L issued by the carrier — the title document.
Customs Declaration
China export declaration filed and cleared before departure.
Need a quote for your destination port?
Send the machine details and destination — we'll reply with options and estimated costs.
FAQ · shipping
Questions buyers ask
How much does it cost to ship an excavator from China?+
For a mini excavator in a full container load (FCL), sea freight typically runs US$2,000–$5,000 depending on route, container size, and season. Larger machines on flat rack or break bulk cost more and are quoted per shipment — send us the machine model and your destination port for an exact quote.
How long does sea freight from China take?+
Typically 20–45 days port-to-port depending on the route and destination. North America West Coast and Southeast Asia are faster; East Coast Americas, Africa, and some break bulk sailings take longer. We confirm the schedule before booking.
Which shipping method does my machine need?+
As a rule of thumb: machines under ~6 tons fit in a standard container (FCL); 8–30 ton excavators, dozers, and loaders go on flat rack or open top; anything over ~30 tons or multi-unit lots ship break bulk. We check exact dimensions and weight and recommend the most economical safe option.
Do you handle customs and export documents?+
Yes. Every shipment includes the commercial invoice, packing list, ocean bill of lading, and China customs export declaration. For US-bound machines we also prepare the EPA-related paperwork — see ourEPA certificate guide.
Can I ship several machines together?+
Yes — consolidating multiple machines on one break bulk vessel under a single bill of lading is usually the cheapest way to move a multi-unit order to the same destination port.
Waybill — final line
Ready to ship a machine
from China?
Browse our stock or contact us with the equipment you need — we'll arrange everything from inspection to loading to delivery at your port.