Mexican construction businesses, small factories and independent contractors often find it more cost-efficient to import American-made heavy equipment though New Mexico than pay the significantly higher tax duty rate for Japanese- or Chinese-made machinery. El Paso-Juarez, which is accessible through New Mexico, is the only point of entry in the region large enough to handle the transport of heavy equipment. You will need the services of a Mexican customs broker and a Mexican business as the registered buyer. Once the equipment is in Mexico, you will need to contract the services of a Mexican transport company. Few U.S. transport vehicles are allowed into Mexico, and only under certain conditions.

Things You Will Need

  • Customs broker

  • Invoice or bill of sale

  • Mexican business registration number and identification

  • Mexican address

Verify the serial number and check with the manufacturer to make sure the heavy machinery you are exporting to Mexico is made in the United States. This information should be on the identification plate, which is on the outer metal frame of the equipment. Japanese- and Chinese-made equipment will incur a much higher duty tax rate, plus fees.

Locate a Mexican customs broker who deals with the export of heavy machinery in Las Cruces, N.M., or El Paso, Texas.

Supply the customs broker with the bill of sale or invoice from the heavy equipment seller. Also provide the machine’s serial number, the year of manufacture, the make and model of the equipment and other pertinent information.

Give the customs broker the name and address of the Mexican importer and the Mexican business registration number.

Have the customs broker calculate the amount of duty tax to be paid. This is approximately 8 percent of the value of the machinery. Also plan to pay the broker's fee and transportation fees to cross the Bridge of the Americas commercial border bridge in Juarez, Chihuahua. This will amount to 15 percent to 20 percent of the value of the equipment. Ask the broker for an estimate in writing.

Transport the equipment to the importation lot assigned by the customs broker in Las Cruces or El Paso.

Get from the customs broker an estimated delivery date in Mexico and the address of the Mexican office and lot. The machinery usually can be delivered within a day if all documentation is completed and correct.

Hire a Mexican transportation company to pick up the equipment and transport it to its destination. The customs broker will give the driver copies of documentation as proof of a legitimate import. Get the original import documents from the broker, and keep them with the paperwork of the heavy equipment; otherwise, you will not be able to resell the equipment.

Pay transportation costs and pick up the heavy equipment in the destination city. The transportation company will deliver the equipment, or you can pick it up at the company lot. You will need to provide identification and the transportation invoice. Mexican regulations allow you to drive the equipment out of the lot and to its final destination.