As infrastructure construction picks up speed across Africa, high-quality used construction machinery has become the go-to choice for many local construction companies looking to cut costs without compromising efficiency. Doosan, a well-known brand with decades of experience in the construction machinery industry, has won great popularity in the African market for its used equipment—reliable performance, high residual value, and excellent technical adaptability.
This case is all about a used Doosan DX220LC excavator, and we’ll walk you through the whole process: from the African client traveling all the way to China to inspect the machine, to on-site confirmation, smooth delivery, and final export. It’s a beautiful story of trust that crosses thousands of miles.
Our client this time is from Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. They run a local engineering company focusing on road construction and mining. As their business grows, they badly needed an additional medium-sized excavator for earthmoving, material loading and unloading, and other basic operations. After comparing many options, they settled on Doosan—once known as Doosan, now part of DEVELON. The Doosan DX220LC is a classic model that’s both durable and energy-efficient. Its FEH fully electronic hydraulic system and EPOS intelligent control system help reduce fuel consumption, making it perfect for Africa’s complex construction conditions. What’s more, the 5-year-old machine still has a residual value of 52%, higher than the industry average, so it’s really cost-effective.
For used equipment, the actual condition is everything—and our client took this very seriously. During our initial online communication, we provided them with all the details about this used Doosan excavator: it rolled off the production line in 2018, has worked 7,200 hours in total, and has no record of major accidents. The core components (engine, hydraulic pump, distributor valve) are all original, and we’ve fully maintained it—replacing worn hydraulic hoses, seals, and other vulnerable parts. We also provided a third-party inspection report, and all performance indicators meet Tanzania’s import standards and Euro IV emission standards.
Even with all the detailed online communication and complete documents, the client still insisted on “seeing is believing.” To make sure the machine met their expectations, they sent two senior mechanical engineers all the way from Tanzania to China—traveling over 10,000 kilometers—to inspect the machine on-site at our used construction machinery warehouse. It was not only a strict check on the equipment quality, but also a test of our sincerity in cooperation.
On the day of the inspection, we made full preparations in advance. We arranged professional technicians to accompany them throughout the process, prepared all necessary inspection tools, and sorted out all the original documents: purchase invoice, maintenance records, inspection report, and more. We wanted to make sure the inspection went smoothly and efficiently.
The client’s engineers were extremely meticulous, checking every detail carefully according to industry standards. The inspection was divided into two parts: static inspection and dynamic test drive. During the static inspection, they walked around the machine to check the appearance—no signs of renovation or welding, just some slight paint wear, which is normal for a used machine. They focused on the engine surface: no oil stains, no leaks, no rust on the cylinder block, and neatly arranged wires. They checked the hydraulic system one by one: no oil leakage at the pipe joints, no aging or cracking of the hoses, normal hydraulic oil level, and no impurities. They also verified that the machine serial number and engine number matched the documents perfectly, confirming there were no property disputes such as mortgages or seizures, and that the machine met export compliance requirements. In addition, they checked the cab: the seat had no excessive wear, the control panel buttons were sensitive, the instrument panel displayed normally, and auxiliary functions like air conditioning and wipers worked well. Overall, the condition exceeded their expectations.
For the dynamic test drive, our technician first demonstrated the operation, and then the client’s engineers took turns to test the machine themselves. After starting the engine, it ignited smoothly within 3 seconds, idled stably without shaking, and there was no knocking sound when accelerating. The exhaust pipe had no abnormal smoke (like black or blue smoke), and the water temperature and oil temperature remained in the normal range. The boom, arm, and bucket moved smoothly without jamming, and the rotation was stable with no abnormal noise. When the boom was lifted to the highest position and the bucket was turned outward for 5 minutes, there was no obvious settlement, showing good sealing of the hydraulic system. During driving, it went straight without deviation, turned flexibly, and the brakes worked well. The digging force was strong enough to meet the heavy-load needs of road construction and mining in Tanzania.
During the test, the client’s engineers also asked our technicians in-depth questions about maintenance skills and common fault troubleshooting. We answered every question patiently and provided a detailed Chinese-English operation manual to help them use the machine smoothly later. After 3 hours of careful inspection, the client’s engineers were very satisfied and said on the spot: “It’s completely up to our expectations, even better than we hoped!”
Right after the inspection, we discussed the cooperation details. We explained the export process, required documents, shipping plan, and after-sales support according to Tanzania’s import policies, and confirmed that the machine met Tanzania’s COC certification requirements for smooth customs clearance. Trusting the machine’s quality and our professional service, the client signed the cooperation contract on the spot, paid the deposit, and confirmed the delivery time and export arrangements.
To ensure the machine was delivered on time and exported smoothly, we quickly started the delivery preparation work. We fully cleaned the machine according to export standards, removed the ETC device, disconnected the negative electrode of the battery, emptied the fuel tank (leaving 5% fuel), and did anti-rust and anti-collision treatment. At the same time, we rushed to sort out all the documents needed for export: export license, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, third-party inspection report, COC certification, etc. We made sure all documents were complete and consistent to avoid delaying customs declaration and clearance.
On the delivery day, we held a simple but warm delivery ceremony at the warehouse. The client’s representatives, our team, and technicians were all present. We solemnly handed over the machine keys and all documents to the client, and demonstrated the machine operation again on-site to confirm there were no abnormalities. Holding the keys, the client’s representative smiled and said: “This trip to China is totally worth it. We not only got a reliable machine, but also felt your professional and sincere service. We look forward to more cooperation in the future!” Then we took a group photo to record this special moment of cross-continental cooperation.
After the ceremony, our professional logistics team transported the used Doosan excavator to Nansha Port in Guangzhou. We used a flat rack container for transportation, fixed the four wheels with binding straps with a breaking strength of ≥5 tons, and added anti-slip mats between the tires and the container floor to ensure the machine was not damaged during transportation. We tracked the logistics progress all the way, updated the client on the machine’s status in real time, and helped with customs declaration, booking, and other related matters—we locked the shipping space 15 days in advance, submitted the customs declaration through China’s International Trade Single Window, and cooperated with customs inspection to ensure smooth customs clearance.
During the sea transportation, we kept in close contact with the shipping company, tracked the ship’s navigation status in real time, and responded to any possible emergencies. After 28 days of sailing, the used Doosan excavator arrived safely at Dar es Salaam Port in Tanzania. We helped the client complete the customs clearance procedures at the destination port, submitted the relevant documents, and assisted in paying customs duties and value-added tax to ensure the machine was released quickly.
After the machine arrived at the client’s construction site, we also provided remote video guidance to help them install and debug the machine, answered their questions during use, provided a 6-month warranty for core components, and promised to continue providing spare parts support in the future—solving all their worries.
This case of exporting a used Doosan excavator to Africa not only achieved a win-win situation for both parties, but also showed Doosan’s core competitiveness in the used construction machinery market and our professional capabilities in used equipment export. The client traveling thousands of miles to inspect the machine is a sign of trust, and also a test of our equipment quality and service level. We always adhere to a rigorous, professional, and sincere attitude, doing our best in every detail—from machine maintenance and inspection accompaniment to customs declaration, export, and after-sales support. In the end, we won the client’s recognition and trust.
The African market is a potential market for used construction machinery, with growing demand for high-quality, cost-effective equipment. In the future, we will continue to focus on high-quality used equipment from brands like Doosan, strictly control equipment quality, improve the export service process, and familiarize ourselves with the import policies and certification requirements of various African countries. We will provide better and more efficient used construction machinery solutions for African clients, build a bridge for Sino-African construction machinery cooperation, and help promote the high-quality development of Africa’s infrastructure construction. We hope more high-quality used equipment can cross continents and serve clients around the world.