How to use this atlas
Each row gives the status for used vehicle engines, what applies in practice and the source we relied on. Rules were checked on 26 September 2026. They change — conformity programmes are re-tendered, duties are revised, bans are lifted and imposed — so treat this as the starting point for the conversation with your clearing agent, not as legal advice. Where we could not confirm a rule from a primary source, the row says “confirm locally”.
Four statuses: Open — the standard document set is enough; Open · pre-shipment certificate — a conformity certificate or inspection is required before the container sails; Permit / restricted — an import permit, authority or special condition is required; Closed to used parts — imports are banned or no licences are issued.
Legend: Open Open · pre-shipment certificate Permit / restricted Closed to used parts — 23 jurisdictions, rules checked 26 September 2026.
Africa
| Country | Status | What applies to used engines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nigeria | Open | Used engines are not on the import prohibition list. Imports run through Form M and PAAR. Our reading of the SONCAP rules is that used products other than vehicles fall outside the certificate — see SONCAP and used engines. | SON — SONCAP |
| Ghana | Open · pre-shipment certificate | Vehicle spare parts are subject to Ghana Standards Authority conformity assessment. Separate news for the vehicle trade: from 1 October 2026 the GSA enforces GS 4510 on used vehicles through pre-export verification (PVoC) — units over 15 years old (first announced as 10), flood- or fire-damaged, or assembled from parts are refused, and importers must register. The GSA says this is enforcement, not a ban; it does not address loose engines, so confirm scope with your clearing agent. | trade.gov — Ghana standards · Citi Newsroom, Aug 2026 · GSA clarification, 5 Aug 2026 |
| Kenya | Open · pre-shipment certificate | Used spare parts are inspected under KEBS PVoC before shipment and need a Certificate of Conformity. Used goods from Japan and the UAE also get a radiation check. | KEBS — PVoC |
| Tanzania | Open · pre-shipment certificate | TBS PVoC applies to used spare parts: a CoC is issued before shipment. Goods that arrive without one pay a 15 % penalty on value and are inspected at destination. | TBS PVoC guideline 2025 |
| Uganda | Open · pre-shipment certificate | Used goods fall under UNBS conformity control (pre-export verification or destination inspection, depending on the product and the period). Confirm the current scope for engines with your agent before booking. | SGS — Uganda PVoC datasheet |
| Zambia | Open · pre-shipment certificate | ZCSA monitors imports covered by compulsory standards, and every consignment must be pre-cleared on ASYCUDA World at least 5 days before arrival (since 1 May 2024). Confirm whether your engines fall under a compulsory standard. | ZCSA — import quality monitoring |
| Zimbabwe | Open · pre-shipment certificate | Used vehicle spare parts need a Certificate of Conformity under the consignment-based conformity assessment (CBCA) programme, issued before shipment. | Bureau Veritas — Zimbabwe CBCA |
| South Africa | Permit / restricted | Used engines and gearboxes need an ITAC import permit obtained before shipment, and permits are granted only in narrow cases. Without the permit the container should not sail. | ITAC guidelines |
| DR Congo | Open · pre-shipment certificate | A FERI/ECTN cargo tracking note is mandatory and its number must appear on the bill of lading; shipments above USD 2,500 FOB are verified by BIVAC before loading. | FERI guide · CMA CGM country requirements |
| Mozambique | Open | Standard document set; conformity and pre-inspection scope is revised periodically. Confirm with your clearing agent, especially for transit cargo to Zambia, Malawi or Zimbabwe. | Lane experience — confirm locally |
Middle East
| Country | Status | What applies to used engines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Open | Open, and the region's re-export hub: Sharjah Industrial Area trades imported used engines on to East Africa and the CIS. Freight into the Gulf has been disrupted in 2026 — quote it live. | Khaleej Times |
| Saudi Arabia | Open · pre-shipment certificate | Imports are handled through the SABER platform, with a shipment certificate issued against the consignment. Confirm the certification body for used engines with your broker. | SABER (SASO) |
| Iraq | Open | Served after compliance review. Documents and any inspection are specified by your broker for the shipment; Korean G-series engines are a large share of demand. | Lane experience — confirm locally |
| Egypt | Open · pre-shipment certificate | Procedures for used automotive components are detailed and enforced; registration and inspection documents are specified by your broker for each shipment. | Lane experience — confirm locally |
Asia
| Country | Status | What applies to used engines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | Open | Commercial imports of used cars reopened in September 2025 with a 40 % regulatory duty — a larger imported parc means more engine demand. Rules for loose used engines: confirm with your agent. | Arab News, 2025 |
| Philippines | Permit / restricted | Executive Order 156 bans used motor vehicles and their parts and components in principle; used engines may enter only with a Certificate of Authority to Import from the Department of Trade and Industry. | WTO import licensing — CAI · Tariff Commission — EO 156 |
| Myanmar | Permit / restricted | Import licensing applies, and used goods declared as new are liable to confiscation. Declare the condition accurately on every document. | DFDL |
Latin America
| Country | Status | What applies to used engines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombia | Closed to used parts | No import licences are being approved for used vehicles and parts — used engines are effectively closed. | trade.gov — Colombia |
| Brazil | Closed to used parts | Imports of used consumer goods are prohibited (Portaria DECEX 8/1991); remanufactured parts are admitted only where no local equivalent is produced. | WTO — Portaria DECEX 8 |
| Chile | Permit / restricted | Used vehicles are banned, but used parts can be imported; used goods pay a 50 % surcharge on the ad-valorem duty. Confirm with a customs agent before quoting. | Aduana de Chile |
| Peru | Permit / restricted | Used engines and parts can enter only under specific technical requirements set by the transport ministry and applied by SUNAT. | SUNAT report 2022 |
Tariff references
| Country | Status | What applies to used engines | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Open | One of the few schedules with a separate line for used engines: HTS 8407.34.14, “used or rebuilt” spark-ignition engines of 1,000–2,000 cc. | HTS 8407.34.14 |
| European Union | Open | The Combined Nomenclature also separates used engines (8407 34 30). Most African and Asian schedules do not, which is why official statistics cannot isolate the used trade. | CN 8407 |
What every destination asks for
Whatever the country, a used engine shipment travels with the same core documents: commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin and bill of lading, with the engines classified under HS 8407 (petrol) or 8408 (diesel). The destination then adds its own layer — a PVoC certificate, a SABER certificate, a FERI tracking note, an ITAC permit. Getting that layer wrong is how containers end up paying penalties or sitting at the port. See HS codes and export documents.
The pre-shipment layer has to be arranged before loading, not after. Tell us your destination when you ask for a quotation: the logistics company that coordinates export from the Guangzhou warehouse prepares the export documents, and we align them with what your agent and inspection body ask for.
Your country is not listed?
Ask us. We quote lanes we do not yet list, and if we cannot confirm that used engines can land in your country, we say so before you pay anything. Corrections from clearing agents and importers are welcome at sales@engicor.com — this atlas is updated as rules change.
Download the data and cite it
The whole atlas is open data under a CC BY 4.0 licence: download it as CSV or JSON — one row per jurisdiction, with its status, the rule, the source links and the review date. You may reuse it in reports, articles, courses or tools, including commercially, as long as you credit the source.
How to cite: ENGICOR (2026). Used engine import rules by country. https://engicor.com/import-rules/ (reviewed 26 September 2026). A link back to this page is the credit we ask for, and it lets your readers find the latest version when a rule changes.
Price a container yourself
Build the mix you want in the online quoter — 90 engines in a 20-ft or 130 in a 40-ft, or 45 + 45 / 65 + 65 with gearboxes — and the FOB total reaches your inbox the same minute, at our published per-unit prices, every engine Grade A. Prefer to ask? Tell us the destination country and the models you need and we reply within one business day, usually within hours.
Frequently asked
Can I import used engines into Kenya?
Yes. Used spare parts are inspected under the KEBS PVoC programme before shipment and need a Certificate of Conformity; used goods from Japan and the UAE also get a radiation check.
Are used engines banned in Colombia and Brazil?
Effectively, yes. Colombia is not approving import licences for used vehicles and parts, and Brazil prohibits imports of used consumer goods, admitting remanufactured parts only where no local equivalent is produced.
Do used engines need a permit in South Africa?
Yes. Used engines and gearboxes need an ITAC import permit obtained before shipment, and permits are granted only in narrow cases.
Can used engines be imported into the Philippines?
Only with authorisation. Executive Order 156 bans used vehicles and their parts in principle; used engines need a Certificate of Authority to Import from the Department of Trade and Industry.
What HS code is used for a used engine?
Normally 8407.34 for petrol engines over 1,000 cc and 8408.20 for diesel vehicle engines. A few schedules, such as the US and the EU, have separate lines for used engines; most do not.