Exporting to Kenya
Excavators for Sale in Kenya
XCMG and SANY crawler excavators supplied direct from China to Kenyan contractors — verified specifications, transparent FOB pricing and full export support to Mombasa.
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Brands: XCMG & SANY
KEBS PVoC — Certificate of Conformity before shipment
Import regime in Kenya
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Discharge ports we ship to
In Stock for Export
Popular Excavator Models in Kenya
These are the excavators we quote most often for Kenya. Kenyan buyers plan around the PVoC inspection window, so we quote machines that can be inspected and certified in China without modification.
Excavator XCMG XE75GA Mini Excavator
A 7.7-ton compact crawler excavator with a Kubota V2607 42.4 kW engine, 0.33 m³ bucket and dozer blade for municipal, utility and landscaping work.
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Excavator XCMG XE215D Crawler Excavator
A 21.5-ton crawler hydraulic excavator with a 1.05 m³ standard bucket and a Cummins QSB7 135 kW engine, engineered for productive earthmoving, municipal, dredging and quarry work.
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Excavator SANY SY75C Mini Hydraulic Excavator
A 7.35-ton small hydraulic excavator with a 0.3 m³ bucket, Isuzu 4JG3X engine and 56 kN bucket digging force for utility and municipal work.
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Excavator SANY SY375H-S Crawler Excavator
A 38.9-ton crawler excavator with a 1.9–2.15 m³ bucket, Isuzu 6HK1 engine and 235 kN bucket digging force for mining, quarry and heavy earthmoving work.
View detailsImport & Compliance
How Excavators Clear Customs in Kenya
Kenya requires a Certificate of Conformity (CoC) issued under the KEBS Pre-Export Verification of Conformity programme before the goods are shipped. The CoC is consignment-specific — one certificate per shipment — and it cannot be issued once the goods have arrived. From 1 July 2025 a Certificate of Origin is additionally required alongside it, and from 3 August 2026 an Advance Cargo Declaration is required for containerised sea freight.
What the importer has to do
- 1 Import Declaration Form (IDF). Lodged by the importer and used as the basis of the customs entry.
- 2 PVoC application and inspection. Applied for at origin, with inspection and any testing against the applicable Kenya Standard carried out before loading.
- 3 Certificate of Conformity (CoC). Issued before shipment. One per consignment, and it cannot be obtained after arrival.
- 4 Certificate of Origin. Required in addition to the CoC since 1 July 2025 — the two travel together.
- 5 Advance Cargo Declaration (ACD). Required by the Kenya Revenue Authority for containerised sea freight from 3 August 2026. The ACD reference has to appear on the bill of lading. Air freight is outside the requirement.
- 6 Customs entry and release. Filed against the IDF and CoC at Mombasa or at an inland container depot for upcountry delivery.
Documents customs will ask for
- Import Declaration Form (IDF)
- Importer-side.
- Certificate of Conformity (CoC)
- PVoC outcome, issued before shipment, one per consignment.
- Certificate of Origin
- Additionally required alongside the CoC since 1 July 2025.
- Commercial invoice
- Prepared by us.
- Packing list
- Prepared by us, with dimensions and weights.
- Bill of lading
- Must carry the ACD reference for containerised sea freight from 3 August 2026.
Ports and transit
- Mombasa (Kilindini Harbour)
- The main gateway and the default landing point.
- Nairobi inland container depot
- Clears against the same entry and removes a road leg for upcountry and Nairobi-area projects.
Indicative transit from Chinese ports such as Shanghai, Lianyungang and Qingdao to Mombasa is commonly quoted in a 20–28 day band, depending on routing and transhipment. We quote the current schedule with your proforma invoice rather than treat any single figure as fixed.
What is driving equipment demand in Kenya
- Standard gauge railway operations and the feeder roads around its terminals
- Nairobi expressway, bypass and metropolitan corridor work
- County road and last-mile programmes under the national roads agencies
- Geothermal and wind energy civil works across the Rift Valley
- Port and inland container depot expansion around Mombasa and Nairobi
- Urban housing and estate development
Check before you commit
Import control rules in Kenya have changed repeatedly and on short notice. We publish the dates we can substantiate — CoC plus Certificate of Origin from 1 July 2025, and ACD for containerised sea freight from 3 August 2026 — but KEBS and the Kenya Revenue Authority issue operational notices that move these. The penalty for arriving without a CoC is commonly cited as a charge on CIF value plus a deposit plus the cost of testing, and we treat that as indicative. Confirm the current position with your clearing agent before every shipment.
Sources and review date
Reviewed 2026-10-18. This section describes the regulatory framework that applies to imports into Kenya. It is not a statement that any particular machine is approved, certified or exempt, and it is not a customs ruling. Import rules change frequently — confirm the current requirements with a licensed clearing agent or customs broker before you ship.
Cost Guide
Excavator Prices for Kenya Buyers
| Model | Class | FOB Price (China) |
|---|---|---|
| XCMG XE75GA | 7.5 t mini excavator | Request current quote |
| XCMG XE215D | 21.5 t crawler excavator | Request current quote |
| SANY SY75C | 7.5 t mini excavator | Request current quote |
| SANY SY375H | 37.5 t mining-class excavator | Request current quote |
FOB prices vary with configuration, attachments and exchange rates. Request a quotation for a current price including freight to Mombasa.
What Makes Up the Landed Cost in Kenya
- FOB machine price, which moves with configuration and attachments
- Ocean freight to Mombasa, or the inland depot route if you clear upcountry
- Marine insurance
- PVoC inspection and Certificate of Conformity, plus the Certificate of Origin
- Import duty, VAT and levies assessed on entry
- Clearing and agency fees
Ask us for a quotation that shows each component clearly, so you can compare offers on the same basis.
Getting Excavators from China to Mombasa
Excavators for Kenya land at Mombasa, which is also the gateway for onward movement to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern DRC. Two methods cover the range:
- RORO (roll-on/roll-off): driven onto the vessel and lashed down. Standard for 20-ton and larger crawler excavators.
- Flat-rack container: 7–8 ton machines travel inside containers or on flat racks, which is useful when you are consolidating with other equipment.
Before loading we clean the machine, photograph the hour meter and serial plate, and send the load plan for sign-off. Freight is priced on dimensions and discharge port — the shipping cost guide shows how the numbers are built up.
Which Excavator Class Suits Kenyan Ground
- 7–8 t mini excavators for utility trenches, drainage and fencing on Nairobi-area and county sites where the machine relocates often.
- 20 t class — the class we quote most for Kenya, covering road works, land development and general contracting.
- 30 t and above for quarry loading and bulk earthmoving, including the upcountry and Rift Valley programmes.
Kenyan ground changes sharply over short distances: volcanic red soils, black cotton clay and hard murram all behave differently under tracks. Tell us the county and the material and we will advise on shoe width, bucket and boom. The excavator size guide covers the selection logic.
What Kenyan Buyers Ask Us First
- When does the Certificate of Conformity have to be in place? Before the vessel sails. The KEBS CoC is issued per consignment and cannot be obtained once the machine has arrived, so we start the PVoC application when the machine is allocated, not when it is ready to ship.
- Do I need a Certificate of Origin as well? Yes. Since July 2025 the CoC travels with a Certificate of Origin. We issue the Chinese-side origin document so the pair is complete.
- Will the bill of lading need an ACD reference? For containerised sea freight, yes, from August 2026. We raise it at booking so the reference is on the bill of lading rather than discovered at Mombasa.
Where These Excavators End Up in Kenya
Machines from this range are working on national and county road programmes, land preparation for residential and commercial developments, quarry operations, irrigation and drainage schemes, and foundation work for power and telecommunications. If the final destination is upcountry or across a border, say so early — it changes which port and which clearance route we recommend.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship an excavator from China to Kenya?
Freight depends on machine size, shipping method (RORO or flat-rack container) and current rates. Mini excavators can usually be containerized, while 20-ton and larger machines typically travel by RORO to Mombasa. Send us your target model and destination port, and we will include an up-to-date freight estimate with your quotation.
How long does shipping from China to Mombasa take?
Transit time from major Chinese ports to Mombasa typically ranges from 20 to 28 days depending on the sailing schedule and transshipment arrangements. We confirm the estimated arrival window with every quotation.
What documents do I need to import an excavator into Kenya?
Two documents travel together, and both have to be in place before the vessel sails: the KEBS Certificate of Conformity issued under the PVoC programme, which is issued per consignment and cannot be obtained after arrival, and a Certificate of Origin, which has been required alongside it since July 2025. You also lodge an Import Declaration Form, and containerised sea freight needs an Advance Cargo Declaration reference on the bill of lading. We prepare the commercial documents and issue the Chinese-side certificate of origin.
Which excavator size is most popular in Kenya?
The 20-ton class is the most requested for road construction, land development and general contracting. Mini excavators around 7–8 tons are popular for urban utility works in Nairobi and tight rural sites, while 30-ton-plus machines serve quarry and mining applications.
Can you ship equipment intended for re-export from Kenya to neighboring countries?
Mombasa serves the wider East African Community, and many of our customers coordinate onward transport to Uganda, Rwanda, South Sudan and eastern DRC. Tell us your final destination and we will advise on the shipping and documentation options.
Do you provide after-sales support for machines delivered to Kenya?
Yes. We support Kenyan customers with parts coordination, technical documentation and remote assistance. One thing to plan for: the PVoC Certificate of Conformity is issued per consignment, so parts shipped separately need their own entry. Tell us before you order a follow-up shipment.
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Same Equipment, Other Markets
Excavators We Export Elsewhere
Next Step
Get a Excavator Quote for Delivery to Kenya
Send us your target model, your destination port (Mombasa) and your project details. We reply within 24 hours with availability, configuration advice and a landed-cost breakdown to Mombasa.
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