What does Chinese heavy equipment cost, all-in?

For commercial equipment imported by a legal entity, the all-in cost combines the price in China, customs duty per HS code, customs clearance fee, VAT, recycling fee, TR CU 010/2011 "On the safety of machinery and equipment" certification and logistics to the customer's warehouse.

Customs duty for heavy equipment under HS group 8429 (excavators 8429.52, backhoe loaders 8429.59, wheel loaders 8429.51, motor graders 8429.20, road rollers 8429.40, dozers 8429.11) and commercial dump trucks 8704 — base rate of 5% of customs value under the EAEU Common Customs Tariff. For wheeled mobile cranes (HS 8705.10, special-purpose vehicles with crane equipment) — also 5%. Some sub-positions may attract 0% or 10%; the final rate is set after product classification.

VAT from 1 January 2026 — 22% of the sum (customs value + duty + customs fee). A legal entity may reclaim VAT paid, provided the import is fully documented.

Recycling fee 2026 for self-propelled machinery (HS 8429 group and 8704.10 mining dump trucks) is calculated as "base rate ₽172,500 × coefficient" per RF Decree No. 81 (2026 edition, legal-entity import, new equipment). For mini excavators 3.5–6 t (XE35U, HS 8429.52, coef. 19.46) — ≈ ₽3.2–3.5 m; for backhoe loaders 7.5–9 t (WZ30-25, 8429.59, coef. 18.56) — ≈ ₽3.0–3.4 m; for crawler excavators 20–25 t (8429.52, coef. 25.01) — ≈ ₽4.1–4.5 m; for wheel loaders 5 t (ZL50, 8429.51, coef. 5.55) — ≈ ₽0.9–1.1 m; for heavy wheel loaders 16–18 t (ZL60, 8429.51, coef. 13.63) — ≈ ₽2.2–2.5 m; for vibratory rollers 10–14 t (XS143, 8429.40, coef. 9.20) — ≈ ₽1.5–1.7 m; for motor graders 180 hp (GR180, 8429.20, coef. 16.36) — ≈ ₽2.7–3.0 m; for dozers 16–22 t (8429.11, coef. 33.33) — ≈ ₽5.5–6.0 m; for 8×4 mining dump trucks 25–35 t (8704.10 R02, coef. 65.21 for the 200–650 hp subgroup) — ≈ ₽10.8–11.7 m. For mobile cranes 25–50 t on a wheeled chassis the figure depends on classification: as self-propelled cranes (HS 8426.41, RF Decree No. 81, section VII, 170–250 hp subgroup, coef. 22.7 × ₽172,500) — ≈ ₽3.9 m; as special-purpose vehicles with crane equipment (HS 8705.10, RF Decree No. 1291, base ₽150,000, coefficient by gross weight) — typical practice for truck-mounted QY25/QY50 on HOWO/Shacman/FAW chassis, with the final figure per the schedule on the import date. Indicative range — ≈ ₽3.7–4.1 m. For heavy mobile cranes 70–100 t (QY70/QY100) the same logic applies: as self-propelled cranes 8426.41 (Decree No. 81, section VII, 250–400 hp subgroup, coef. 35.1 × ₽172,500) — ≈ ₽6.05 m; as special-purpose vehicles with crane 8705.10 (Decree No. 1291, base ₽150,000) — by gross weight and year of manufacture. Indicative range — ≈ ₽6.0–6.5 m. For machinery older than 3 years coefficients double. Updates per Decrees No. 1255 of 13.09.2024, No. 1853 of 21.12.2024 and No. 157 of 14.02.2025 are factored in.

Special case — tower cranes (HS 8426.20). HS 8426.20 "Tower cranes" appears neither in the schedule of RF Decree No. 81 (section VII lists only self-propelled cranes 8426.41 and pipe-laying/crawler cranes 8426.49) nor in the schedule of RF Decree No. 1291 (vehicles of categories M/N/O). For QTZ125/QTZ160 and similar stationary cranes imported in knocked-down form (tower sections, slewing platform, counterweight, jib, cabin, hoists), no recycling fee applies. Registration is with Rostekhnadzor as a lifting structure (PS), without traffic police or Gostekhnadzor. This is the key difference from mobile cranes 25–80 t and self-propelled crawler cranes, where the recycling fee is mandatory.

Certification and registration. Self-propelled equipment (excavators, loaders, dozers) requires SBKTS and is registered with Gostekhnadzor. Commercial dump trucks are registered with the traffic police (GIBDD): OTTS/SBKTS, vehicle title, GLONASS installation. For most serial models from XCMG, SANY, LiuGong, Shantui, SDLG, HOWO, Shacman certificates already exist — a copy from the manufacturer is enough.

Logistics via Hunchun — Makhalino. A direct border corridor from Jilin, Liaoning, Shandong. Factory-to-RU-warehouse lead time — 14–22 days. Alternatives: Manzhouli–Zabaikalsk (25–35 days), sea route via Vladivostok (35–50 days). Cost depends on the route, equipment type and any oversize-cargo requirements.

All rates and ranges are indicative, based on current Russian government decrees, the EAEU Common Customs Tariff and 2026 industry logistics tariffs. The final calculation is prepared per specific model, route and contract terms.