Tractors, implements, pumps, generators and spare parts from Australia are in demand on farms across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda. Getting them there is very doable by sea, but machinery needs more planning than a box of clothes: the right shipping option, careful preparation, and a check on the destination rules before you buy.

BenCal ships farm equipment and spare parts from Perth to East Africa every month, with customs handled by our team and delivery to the address you give us. This guide covers how to plan it.

Machinery travels by sea

Farm machinery is heavy and bulky, which makes air freight impractical and very expensive. Machinery goes on our monthly sea freight from Perth. Allow around 6 to 8 weeks door to door for Kenya, 6 to 9 weeks for Tanzania and 8 to 10 weeks for Uganda, counted from departure. If a small part is urgently needed to get a machine running, that part alone can go by air freight.

Choosing how to ship it

The right option depends on the size of the machine and what else you are sending:

• Spare parts and small equipment, such as filters, belts, bearings, hand tools and small pumps, pack well into boxes and travel in a shared container.
• A tractor, implements or several machines often suit a full container, which can also carry parts and tools in the spaces around them.
• Very large or unusual machines need to be measured before anything is booked. Send us the dimensions and weight, and we will advise the best way to ship it for its size.

Check the destination rules before you buy

If the machine is a vehicle that will be registered, such as a tractor or a truck, vehicle import rules may apply. At the time of writing (October 2026):

• Kenya requires imported vehicles to be right-hand drive, and limits used vehicles by age under its KS 1515 standard, which is under review.
• Tanzania has no age ban that we found, but charges extra excise duty on older used vehicles from eight years old.
• Uganda does not allow vehicles more than 15 years old from the year of manufacture, with an exception for heavy goods vehicles of 4,000 kg or more. Vehicles between 9 and 15 years old attract an environmental levy.

How these rules apply to a particular tractor or machine depends on what it is and how it will be used, so send us the details before you buy and we will confirm the current position. Duties and taxes also apply on import and depend on the equipment, so factor them in.

How to prepare machinery for shipping

We will tell you exactly how to prepare your machine for its trip. As a general guide, good preparation looks like this:

• Clean it thoroughly. Wash off soil, mud, seeds and plant material, including underneath and inside wheel arches, tracks and attachments. Clean equipment is quicker to inspect and less likely to be held.
• Secure or remove loose parts. Take off or tie down anything that could move or snap in transit, and pack removed parts in a labelled box.
• Tell us about fuel and batteries. Machines with engines, fuel and batteries have handling rules. Do not ship spare fuel or gas bottles, and ask us how the machine itself should be prepared.
• Protect fragile parts such as gauges, glass and hydraulic fittings.
• Photograph the machine from all sides before it leaves, as a record of its condition.

Keep the paperwork together

Machinery shipments clear faster when the paperwork is complete. Keep:

• the purchase receipt or invoice, showing what was paid
• the make, model, year and serial or engine numbers
• registration papers, if the machine was registered in Australia
• a list of every part and attachment travelling with it

Our team uses these for the export paperwork in Australia and customs clearance at the destination. Shipments worth more than AUD 2,000 need an export declaration to the Australian Border Force, which we prepare as part of the job.

Spare parts are the easy win

Not every farm needs a whole tractor. Often the most valuable thing you can send is a box of the spare parts that are hard or expensive to get locally. Parts pack neatly into Bunnings 150L heavy duty boxes, and shipping one starts at $220. See box shipping. Label each part clearly and include the machine it fits, so the person receiving it knows what they have.

Delivery and tracking

Once cleared, machinery is delivered to the address you give us, so make sure the site can take the delivery and that someone is there with a working phone. We keep you updated along the way, and you can check progress on our tracking page. Optional cargo insurance is available for extra peace of mind on high-value equipment.

For more on vehicles and machinery, see shipping vehicles and machinery, and our destination pages for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Rules referenced in this guide were checked in October 2026 against the Kenya Revenue Authority, the Tanzania Revenue Authority, the Uganda Revenue Authority and the Australian Border Force. They change, so we confirm the current position for your shipment before you book. This guide is general information, not customs or tax advice.