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Buying used construction equipment in South Africa

There is one step here that catches people out, so read this before you order.

Omega Machines · Updated 23 October 2026

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South Africa is the one market on our list with a rule you have to deal with before the machine ships rather than after it lands, and we would rather tell you about it on this page than after you have paid a deposit.

The import permit

South Africa controls the import of used and second hand goods, and that includes used machinery. The permit is issued by ITAC, the International Trade Administration Commission. From what we understand it costs nothing and takes a matter of days, but it has to exist before the machine arrives. Apply early and confirm the detail with ITAC or your clearing agent, because they are the authority on it and we are not.

Which port

Durban is the biggest and the usual choice. Cape Town, Gqeberha and Richards Bay all work depending on where your site is and which agent you use. Tell us which one and we ship there.

What South Africa buys from us

Mostly machines at prices the local market does not match, and models the local dealers do not carry in depth. Large excavators, production loaders, graders, rollers and site tippers. Plant hire companies buy from us for the same reason, to add a machine without paying a new price.

Being honest about the local market

South Africa has a deep used equipment market of its own, and sometimes the right answer is to buy locally. If the delivered figure we give you is not better than what you can find in Johannesburg, we will tell you so. That is worth more to us than one sale.

What you get before you pay

Photographs, video of the machine running with the hour meter in frame, an open yard for your inspector, and a price printed on the page from the start.

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Questions from buyers in South Africa

What buyers in South Africa ask us.

The import permit

Do I need a permit to import used machinery into South Africa?+
Used and second hand goods are controlled, and that includes machinery. The permit comes from ITAC. Start that before the machine ships, not after.
Who issues the import permit?+
ITAC, the International Trade Administration Commission. Your clearing agent will normally handle the application with you.
How long does the permit take?+
Our understanding is a matter of days and at no cost, but confirm the current position with ITAC or your agent rather than taking our word for it.
What happens if the machine arrives without one?+
That is the situation to avoid entirely, which is why we put this at the top of the page instead of the bottom.
Can you apply for the permit for me?+
No. It is applied for in South Africa by the importer, normally through your clearing agent.

Ports and shipping

Which South African port do you ship to?+
Durban most often, but Cape Town, Gqeberha and Richards Bay all work. Tell us which suits your site and your agent.
What does a machine cost landed in Durban?+
The machine price is printed on its page, and we add the sea freight to Durban so you get a single figure.
Can several machines come in one shipment?+
Yes, and the freight per machine drops when they do.
Do you handle transport to Johannesburg?+
No. We finish at loading in the origin port, and the leg from Durban onward is arranged at your end.
How does a grader or a large excavator travel?+
On a flat rack or as breakbulk, depending on the sailing. It does not go in a standard container.

Price, payment and honesty

Can you beat the local used market?+
Sometimes clearly, sometimes not. Send us the machine you are comparing against and we will tell you straight rather than wasting your week.
Who do I pay for a machine going to South Africa?+
Beaumont Investment Group, LLC in the United States, which a buyer in South Africa can verify before sending anything.
What are the payment terms for South Africa?+
75 percent on confirmation and 25 percent before the machine sails for Durban.
Can I send an inspector to your yard?+
Yes, to Qingdao or to Mohammedia, and on a large machine we would encourage it.
Do you publish South African duty rates?+
No. Your clearing agent will confirm duty and VAT treatment for the machine you are importing.
Do you sell to plant hire companies?+
Yes, and they are some of our steadiest buyers because they come back for the next unit.

Start the permit and send us the machine

Tell us the machine and your port. Start the ITAC side with your agent at the same time and the two will finish together.

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