Ukrainian farmers often look for quality agricultural machinery abroad. Germany is one of the market leaders, offering a wide choice of new and used machinery. In this post we will tell you how to choose a combine harvester correctly, arrange the purchase, deliver it to Ukraine and successfully pass the customs clearance procedure.
1. Where to look for agricultural machinery in Germany
In Germany there are many platforms where you can find quality agricultural machinery, including combine harvesters. Here are a few popular resources:
https://www.traktorpool.de
One of the largest online resources for selling agricultural machinery. Here you can find both new and used machinery from private sellers and dealers.https://www.technikboerse.com
A portal with thousands of listings for the sale of tractors, combine harvesters and other equipment.https://www.kleinanzeigen.de
An analogue of the Ukrainian OLX. You simply type in the model of the equipment you need and look at the results.https://www.maschinensucher.de
A specialised site selling industrial and agricultural equipment.Manufacturers' websites
If you are looking for new machinery, pay attention to the official sites of brands such as John Deere, CLAAS, Fendt and New Holland.
2. How to conclude a sale and purchase contract
To buy a combine harvester, you need to:
- Contact the seller
Choose a suitable option on one of the platforms. Contact the seller to clarify the details: the technical condition, the configuration, the payment and delivery terms. - Inspect the machinery
It is advisable to inspect the machinery before buying, in person or through an intermediary, to make sure of its condition. - Drawing up the contract
The sale and purchase contract (Kaufvertrag) must be drawn up in two languages: German and Ukrainian (or with a certified translation). The document indicates:
The details of the seller and the buyer;
A detailed description of the combine harvester (make, model, year of manufacture, serial number);
The price and payment terms;
The terms of handing over the machinery (assembly/disassembly, delivery).
- Payment
After the contract is signed, payment is made. Use a bank transfer with a SWIFT receipt provided to confirm the payment.
3. Delivery of the combine harvester to Ukraine
A large combine harvester is usually transported in a disassembled state on a low-loader. The stages of delivery:
- Disassembling the machinery
Before transport, the cabin, tyres and header of the combine harvester are dismantled. This reduces the size of the cargo and lowers the transport costs. - Choosing a transport company
Hire a transport company that specialises in carrying oversized cargo. - Transport
The delivery route from Germany to Ukraine runs through the Polish-Ukrainian border (for example, the "Yahodyn–Dorohusk" checkpoint). The accompanying documents must be drawn up in accordance with customs requirements.
4. How to clear a combine harvester through customs in Ukraine
The customs clearance procedure includes several stages:
Required documents:
The sale and purchase contract (translated into Ukrainian).
The invoice confirming the value of the machinery.
A certificate of origin of the goods (if available).
The technical passport of the combine harvester (a document setting out all the technical characteristics of the goods).
Transport documents (CMR, TIR carnet, etc.).
The compiled customs declaration (prepared by the broker; submitted to customs by the customs broker upon the cargo's arrival at customs).
Duty and VAT rates:
Duty: When importing agricultural machinery into Ukraine, a duty rate of 0% applies (under Ukrainian legislation). This rule applies to machinery used exclusively in agriculture.
VAT: Value added tax is 20% of the customs value of the combine harvester (purchase price + delivery).
Clearance stages:
Preliminary customs declaration
Submitted by the customs broker to customs before the cargo crosses the customs border of Ukraine. This declaration is required to cross the border.Payment of duty and VAT
When the preliminary declaration is submitted, customs reserves the amount needed for customs clearance upon the cargo's arrival in Ukraine.Customs inspection
Upon arrival at the destination customs office in Ukraine, the customs inspector checks that the documents and the condition of the machinery match.Completion of customs clearance
After all the procedures are completed, the machinery is officially allowed into operation in Ukraine. The buyer receives a copy of the completed customs declaration.
Buying and delivering a combine harvester from Germany to Ukraine is a process that requires careful preparation and a competent approach. Agricultural machinery from Germany is renowned for its high quality and reliability, so acquiring it will be an excellent investment in the development of your farm. If you want to minimise risks and time, entrust the organisation of delivery and customs clearance to a professional logistics company. We will be glad to help you at every stage of the process!
The stages of work when buying a combine harvester with Trans-Hope's support:
- You need to decide who will act as the buyer of the machinery abroad: your company or Trans-Hope on your instructions. If your company is the buyer, you must be accredited at customs. If you are not accredited at customs, you need to get accredited. The accreditation procedure is described in this article. You also need to open a foreign-currency account at one of the Ukrainian banks.
If Trans-Hope acts as the buyer of the machinery abroad, you need none of the above; Trans-Hope will issue invoices in hryvnia in stages — for the purchase of currency, then for the payment of customs charges, and finally for the road transport, before the machinery is unloaded at your warehouse. - You find the option of machinery that interests you and send us the link.
- You, or our manager, contact the seller and clarify all the questions about the machinery that interest you.
- If necessary, before concluding the sale and purchase contract or during loading, we go out and take a photo/video inspection of the machinery. EUR 250 + EUR 0.75 / km from 63897 Miltenberg (Germany) to the location of the machinery.
- You conclude the sale and purchase contract for the machinery (yourself, or our manager will do all the work and provide a ready contract that needs to be signed).
- Payment for the machinery. With a scanned copy of the signed sale and purchase contract in hand, currency is bought on the interbank market and transferred to the seller. If you are the buyer of the goods, you make the currency payment yourself. If necessary, we advise and help you at any stage of the whole process of purchase, delivery and clearance.
- After payment is received, we agree the loading date with the seller and provide a low-loader on the appointed date.
- After loading, we check all the documents and prepare the preliminary declaration for crossing the border.
Upon arrival in Ukraine, we carry out the customs clearance of the cargo and deliver the cleared goods to your warehouse.
In this whole package there are constant, unchanging costs borne by both the direct buyer (that is, you) and the dealer who sells machinery in Ukraine, namely:
A) The cost of the machinery itself abroad
B) Delivery from Europe to Ukraine
C) The cost of paying VAT at customs clearance
D) The cost of compiling and completing the customs declaration (the customs broker's work)
So why pay more, if you can do points A–D yourself under our attentive guidance! Interested? Then write to us.
