Exporting machinery from Sweden
How do I export a large machine from Sweden?
Exporting a large machine from Sweden involves more than booking transport. You need to know what the machine is, where it is going, who the buyer is and which documents are required for it to leave Sweden correctly.
A machine sent outside the EU normally requires an export declaration. This includes the commodity code, value, weight, consignor, consignee and destination country. Sales to another EU country are often simpler, but you still need the correct invoice, VAT treatment and transport documentation.
Tullify helps businesses plan exports before the machinery is shipped. We can provide the right documents, accurate export information and practical guidance to make the export smooth, correct and reliable from the start.
Which documents do I need for this type of export?
When exporting machinery, you normally need a clear commercial invoice, transport documents and details of the machine’s commodity code, weight, value and origin. Shipments outside the EU also require supporting information for the export declaration.
The commercial invoice is one of the most important documents. It should identify the seller and buyer and state what the machine is, its price, currency, delivery terms and destination. The transport document shows how it is shipped and may be needed for both customs clearance and VAT reporting.
Some machines also require technical documentation, serial numbers, CE documentation, manuals or certificates. This is especially relevant for advanced, used or custom-built machinery, or shipments to countries with specific import requirements. You also need an EORI number, the company’s registration number with customs in the EU, without which no export declaration can be lodged. Tullify helps you collect the right documents and prepare accurate export documentation.
What does it cost to export machinery within the EU?
Selling a machine from Sweden to another EU country is not normally an export in the customs sense. Goods can generally move freely within the EU, but the transaction still involves costs and requirements.
Important costs to budget for include:
- Transport from Sweden to the destination country
- Loading and unloading
- Insurance during transport
- Any specialist transport
- Document handling
- Checking VAT rules
- Any technical documentation
- On-site installation or servicing
VAT treatment is often important for businesses. A sale to a VAT-registered business in another EU country may be made without Swedish VAT if the relevant conditions are met. Tullify helps you understand the requirements and ensures the documentation is correct before shipment.
What does it cost to export machinery to a non-EU country?
Selling machinery from Sweden to a country outside the EU normally involves more administration than an intra-EU sale. You often need to budget for an export declaration, transport, insurance, terminal handling, specialist loading and any documents required by the destination country.
Customs charges usually arise in the destination country, which may charge import duty, VAT or other taxes when the machine arrives. Who pays depends on the agreement between seller and buyer, particularly the delivery terms.
It is therefore important to clarify the costs before completing the transaction. An inexpensive sale can become costly if specialist vehicles are needed, documents are missing or the destination country has special rules. Tullify helps you check export requirements and prepare the right information.
How large can the machinery be?
There is no single limit on the size of machinery that can be exported from Sweden. However, size affects transport, cost and handling. Smaller machines can often be sent as ordinary freight, while larger machines may need specialist transport.
Check the machine’s length, width, height and weight, and how it will be loaded. For very heavy or wide machinery, the carrier may need to plan a special route, book specialist vehicles, arrange a crane or check which roads and terminals can handle the load.
From a customs perspective, size does not determine whether machinery can be exported. What matters is the type of machine, its commodity code, value and destination country. Tullify helps you organise the export details before transport is booked.
Who pays customs duty on the machinery?
For exports from Sweden, distinguish between export formalities and import costs in the destination country. The exporter is often responsible for correct export documentation, while the buyer usually handles import duty and local charges. The delivery terms can change this allocation.
The exporter on the export declaration must be established in the EU. A buyer outside the EU cannot be the exporter, not even on an EXW delivery. As a rule the buyer cannot be the declarant either, but Norwegian operators are exempt from the establishment requirement as declarant. Most often, therefore, it is you as the seller who is the exporter.
Always check the following before selling the machine:
- Who is the exporter?
- Who is the importer in the destination country?
- Which delivery terms apply?
- Is freight included in the price?
- Are customs duty and local charges included?
- Who is responsible for insurance?
- Who books the transport?
- Who handles the export declaration?
Unclear responsibilities can cause misunderstandings, delays and extra costs. Tullify helps you clarify who does what and establish a clear export arrangement so both seller and buyer understand the terms.
How does VAT work when exporting machinery?
VAT depends on whether the machine is sold to another EU country or a country outside the EU. Swedish VAT is often not charged on sales to a business in another EU country if the buyer is VAT-registered and the other conditions are met.
Exports outside the EU are often sold without Swedish VAT, but you need evidence that the goods actually left the EU. The export declaration, transport documents and invoice are therefore important for bookkeeping and VAT reporting.
Do not simply remove VAT without the right documentation. Incorrect or missing evidence can cause problems during an inspection. Tullify helps you prepare the correct export documents and ensures the VAT issue is addressed alongside the other paperwork.
Does the machinery need CE marking?
Machinery sold or put into service within the EU normally has to meet EU safety, health and environmental requirements. CE marking indicates that the machine meets relevant requirements and may be sold on the EU market.
CE marking is often very important when exporting machinery from Sweden to another EU country, particularly if it will be resold, installed or used in a business. A declaration of conformity, manuals and technical documentation may also be important.
Different rules may apply outside the EU. Some countries accept CE marking as part of the documentation, while others require local approvals or specific certificates. Tullify can help with export documentation and advise on which documents to check.
We help with the entire export and all the documents
Exporting machinery can involve considerable administration, particularly for high-value equipment, heavy transport or sales outside the EU. Many details need to be correct so the machine can be shipped without unnecessary problems.
Tullify can help you with:
- Export declarations
- Commercial invoices
- Commodity codes
- Document checks
- VAT documentation
- Transport-related information
- Destination country checks
- Advice on the export process
- Clarifying responsibilities and delivery terms
The aim is a simpler, clearer and more reliable export. Send us your documents and we help check what is needed and how the export should be handled. Tullify helps businesses avoid unnecessary delays, incorrect information and incomplete documentation.
Which machinery am I not allowed to export?
Most ordinary machinery can be exported, but there are important exceptions. Some machines require a licence and others may not be exported at all. Exports to Russia and Belarus are prohibited for a large number of commodity codes, including goods that could help strengthen Russia’s industrial capacity. The tariff shows which CN codes are covered. The prohibition also applies to supplies to listed persons and companies, whatever the goods. Under the EU’s twentieth sanctions package, adopted in April 2026, the prohibition on machining centres for metalworking also applies to exports to Kyrgyzstan. Check the commodity code in the tariff and the recipient against the sanctions lists before you sell. Where a licence is missing, no export declaration should be lodged.
The licensing requirement covers, for example, machinery with military uses and dual-use items, that is civilian products that can also be used militarily. Machine tools, heat exchangers, valves and pumps are typical examples. All exports out of the EU of listed items require a licence from the Swedish Inspectorate of Strategic Products (ISP) under Regulation (EU) 2021/821. Since 1 November 2025 there is also a Swedish national control list. The export must in addition be notified to Swedish Customs at least 48 hours in advance.
The commodity code may be flagged in the tariff, but the classification is made by comparing the machine’s characteristics with the technical descriptions in Annex I, not against the commodity code. One and the same commodity code can cover both a listed and an unlisted product. Make that check before you sell the machine. Special requirements may also apply if the machine contains hazardous substances, advanced electronics or components subject to export controls.
Check the export before the machine is sold or shipped. Tullify helps identify the information needed and whether additional checks are required. This reduces the risk of the goods being stopped, delayed or handled incorrectly.
Read on
The whole export chain is described on our page about exporting from Sweden.
Bringing a machine into Sweden instead? Read our guide to importing machinery into Sweden.
More guides are collected in our customs guides.
