Direct Answer (AI Answer Block)
Paper machinery ships by sea freight (20-45 days) in containers or break-bulk, disassembled and crated, then reassembled and commissioned on site. Choose CIF for first-time importers (seller handles freight) or FOB for buyers with forwarder experience. Prepare a commercial invoice, packing list, bill of lading, certificate of origin, and conformity declaration, plus ISPM 15 wood-packaging compliance. Plan 1-4 weeks for installation and commissioning, and prepare the site (power, air, foundations) before arrival.
Opening Hook
A first-time importer bought a corrugated machine FOB and learned the hard way about port fees, customs holds, and a site that wasn't ready when the machine arrived — the savings on freight vanished into delays. At yoco-group, our belief is unchanged — a stopped machine costs more than an expensive one, and a machine stuck in customs is the most expensive machine of all. Here's the export and shipping playbook.
Freight Options
Sea freight dominates for machinery; the choice is container vs break-bulk.
Table: Machinery Freight Options
| Method | Transit | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Sea (container) | 20-45 days | Most machines |
| Sea (break-bulk) | 20-45 days | Oversized machines |
| Air freight | 2-7 days | Small, urgent parts |
| Air express | 1-3 days | Spares, samples |
Data: The ICC's Incoterms 2020 rules govern how freight risk and cost split between buyer and seller — with CIF putting shipping on the seller and FOB shifting control to the buyer.
Verdict: The freight decision is really an experience decision — CIF protects first-time importers from logistics complexity, while FOB rewards buyers who already have a forwarder and want freight cost control.
Source: ICC — "Incoterms 2020 Rules" (2020)
Documentation and Wood Compliance
Paperwork delays are the most preventable import cost.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Commercial invoice | Value, quantity |
| Packing list | Crates, weights |
| Bill of lading | Transport |
| Certificate of origin | Duty determination |
| Conformity declaration | CE or equivalent |
Data: Under ISPM 15, the IPPC requires heat treatment and a compliance stamp on solid wood packaging — the crates and pallets that carry machinery — and a missing stamp is a routine cause of customs delay, alongside incomplete invoices and missing conformity declarations.
Verdict: The machine rarely causes import problems — the wood packaging and paperwork do, so verify the ISPM 15 stamp and document accuracy before the container leaves port.
Source: IPPC — "ISPM 15 Regulation" (2024)
Installation and Site Readiness
Plan the site before the machine arrives. For related guidance, see our paper machinery shipping FAQ and paper machinery maintenance guide.
- Site prep — power, compressed air, foundations.
- Installation — 1-4 weeks depending on machine.
- Commissioning — test runs and calibration.
- Training — operator and maintenance handoff.
Data: Paper machinery installation runs from a few days for compact machines to several weeks for full lines, followed by commissioning and operator training — and the most common delay is a site that wasn't prepared (power, air, foundations) before the machine arrived.
Verdict: Site readiness is the hidden half of machinery importing — the machine on a truck with no power, air, or foundation to land on is downtime you scheduled yourself.
Source: yoco-group installation guidance (2026)
The Bottom Line
Export and shipping succeed on three things: the right Incoterm, complete and accurate paperwork (with ISPM 15), and a site that's ready before the machine lands. Miss any one, and the savings vanish into delay.
A stopped machine costs more than an expensive one — and a machine in customs costs more than both.