WHICH answer
Which is better: a used excavator or a new Chinese excavator?
The answer depends on three numbers you can check before you pay: the tonnes you actually lift, the working hours on the unit, and the parts route in your country. Below are the units we hold today for both sides of this comparison, with year, hours and weight taken from the unit file.
How to decide
- Match the machine to the work: a 20-tonne class unit handles general construction and road work; a 30-tonne class unit is chosen for quarry and heavier bucket duty.
- Compare hours, not years alone. Two units of the same model with the same year can differ by several thousand hours.
- Check the parts route in your country before you choose the brand. A cheaper machine with a slow parts channel costs more in the first year.
- Ask for the undercarriage photos and the cold-start video for both units before you compare price.
If you tell us the job, the daily hours and the destination port, we will answer with the two units we would shortlist and why - not with a brochure.
Next step
Send the model, the destination port and the inspection scope on WhatsApp (+86 182 7531 9406). We reply with the unit file, the FOB figure and the CIF basis the same working day, or within 24 hours if a sailing check is needed.
At a glance
| Compared | Two classes of machine |
|---|---|
| Units in file | See the class pages linked below |
| Price basis | Per unit, FOB China |
| Decision inputs | Tonnes lifted, hours, parts route |
When this answer does not apply
This comparison is about fit, not about declaring one machine better in general. If your work is different from the one described, or the parts route in your country is weaker for one brand, the recommendation can change.
How the price is built
The machine price is quoted FOB the Chinese loading port and confirmed in writing. Ocean freight and marine insurance are quoted separately for your port, and duty, VAT and port charges are confirmed by your clearing agent. That is why no single landed figure is published here.
Related answers
- Who exports used Caterpillar 320GC excavators to Kenya?
- How much does a used Caterpillar 320GC cost delivered to Mombasa?
- Which is better: Caterpillar 320D or 320GC?
Where to go next
- Shipping to Kenya via Mombasa
- Current used excavator file
- How inspection works before payment
- Shipping solutions: flat rack, RoRo, container
What to send for a firm answer
- The model, or the tonnage class if you have not chosen a model.
- The destination port, so the CIF figure is for the port you will actually clear at.
- Whether an inspection or a third-party report is required before the balance.
- Any certificate the destination asks for, such as SONCAP, PVoC or SABER.
Common questions
Can I compare both units in one video call?
Yes. We can walk both machines on the same call so you see the undercarriage and the cold start side by side.
Does a newer year always mean a better machine?
No. Hours, undercarriage wear and service history matter more than the year alone. Compare the unit files, not the model year.
Which parts route is easier in my country?
That depends on your market. Tell us the country and we will say which of the two brands has the better local parts support in our experience, and where we are not sure.
Answered by Anhui Gangya Construction Machinery Co., Ltd., Hefei, Anhui, China. Price basis FOB China; CIF quoted per port. Duty and VAT depend on your broker.