Reference
Buy equipment in Ukraine or direct from China
Direct import doesn’t always win. If you need the machine on site tomorrow — buy in Ukraine. If you can wait while it travels by sea, the price difference can be significant: in the Vinnytsia case a new crane came out 30% cheaper than a used one.
Lead times are for equipment on a flat rack: it travels on a container vessel, so the corridors are the same as for containers (data as of 27 July 2026).
FAQ
Why can new equipment from China cost as much as used in Ukraine?
Because you buy at the factory or main distributor price, without resales along the chain. In the Vinnytsia case a new XCMG 50 t came out 30% cheaper than a used crane in Ukraine. Whether it works out like that for your model — we’ll show you at a free check-up, before any payments.
Can you buy used equipment in China?
Yes. Before payment our representative goes to the seller’s yard or site: checks the machine itself, its operating hours and documents, matches the serial number and verifies that the seller is who they claim to be. We don’t recommend buying used equipment from China without such an inspection.
How long does a mobile crane or other heavy equipment take from China to Ukraine?
If the machine goes on a flat rack, the sea leg follows the same corridors as containers: via Rotterdam 31–46 days, via Gdańsk 48–55, via Constanța 60–70 (data as of 27 July 2026). Plus the road leg on a low-loader. It’s worth applying for its permits while the equipment is still at sea — otherwise it will wait in port.
How do you vet an equipment seller in China before payment?
Check the legal name in the registry (GSXT or QCC) against the name on the invoice and in the bank details: a Shanghai company with a Hong Kong account is a reason to stop. Ask for a photo of the serial number and a video from the site. Refusing to let your trusted person into the plant, or agreeing only after prepayment, is the most reliable red flag.
Can you buy XCMG or SANY directly in China?
Yes — through the factory’s main distributor. That’s exactly how we bought an XCMG 50 t for a client in the Vinnytsia region: the crane they needed was in stock, the configuration was upgraded, and the price came out 30% lower than for a used crane in Ukraine.
How is heavy equipment shipped by sea: flat rack, RoRo or breakbulk?
It depends on dimensions and weight. A flat rack is a platform on a container vessel: that’s how two SANY 34 t cranes travelled, with a 14.2 m boom overhanging the edge of the platform. Breakbulk is general cargo in the hold: that’s how we costed a 100-tonne XCMG QY100KH from Qingdao. RoRo means the machine drives onto the vessel under its own power, so it suits wheeled equipment.
Who handles customs clearance in Ukraine?
We do. Customs clearance in Ukraine is part of the service together with delivery, so there’s no need to look for a separate broker for each machine.
What does a “turnkey” price for equipment from China include?
The factory or distributor price, ocean freight, port charges, the road leg on a low-loader with permits, duty and 20% VAT at customs clearance, customs broker fees. Shipping is where you can save the most: placing the jib correctly on the XCMG 50 t saved $6,150.
