Thinking about exporting forklift out of UAE? Nice. If you’re shipping from Jebel Ali, Khalifa Port or even Sharjah the process can be straightforward. If you match the right machine to the right shipping method, pack it properly and get the dangerous goods paperwork right (batteries and LPG love their rules). Let’s walk through the real world decisions in plain English, so your forklift lands on time and in one piece.
Pick your powerhouse: Diesel, LPG or Electric?
Each power type ships a little differently and that affects cost, risk and paperwork.
Diesel Forklifts
- Why choose: Rugged, happy outdoors, simple fueling at destination. Usually the easiest to sell in developing markets and construction sites.
- Shipping vibe: RoRo when possible drive on, drive off, minimal dismantling. Flat rack works for big counterbalance units with tall masts.
- Prep: Drain fuel down to a safe residual, disconnect the battery, cap lines if you’re removing the mast. Note total weight for lashing plans.
LPG Forklifts
- Why choose: Clean burn, quick refuel, often popular for indoor/warehouse use.
- Shipping vibe: Similar to diesel but the cylinder is the catch pressurized tanks bring extra rules.
- Prep: Remove and purge the LPG cylinder. Ship the truck without a tank or send an empty, purged cylinder separately with clear declarations. No “half-full and hope for the best.”
Electric Forklifts (Lead-acid/ Lithium)
- Why choose: Quiet, zero local emission, perfect for indoor operation. Great resale into modern DCs and cold storage.
- Shipping vibe: Electrics travel well but the battery defines your paperwork.
- Lead-acid (wet): Classed as corrosive DG in many cases. Must stay upright and secured; vent caps closed, terminals protected.
- Lead-acid (non-spillable): Easier but you’ll still need markings and an SDS.
- Lithium-ion: Class 9 DG for sea/air; provide UN 38.3 test summary and SDS, protect terminals, keep SoC at a safe level and follow IMDG/airline limits. Occasionally it’s cheaper and also simpler to ship the truck and battery as separate pieces with devoted packing.
- Quick tip: If buyer can source battery locally, shipping the forklift without its heavy battery can slit ocean freight and simplify DG handling.
Best way to ship: RoRo, Container/ Flat Rack?
- RoRo: The gold standard for self-propelled forklifts. Drive on, drive off. Minimal handling, good transit times. Works if your origin and destination ports have RoRo services and your mast height fits the deck limits.
- Container (20’/40’/40’HC): Excellent for smaller forklifts or when you package spare parts. You may need to remove forks or even the mast to clear the door height. Lash to floor rings, block the wheels and brace the counterweight.
- Flat rack / Breakbulk: For tall masts, reach trucks or heavy counterbalance units. You’ll get OOG (out-of-gauge) surcharges, but loading is simple and safe with proper lashing and wood cribbing.
Measure everything with the mast fully lowered: overall height, width (including tires) and length (with forks retracted). Don’t guess. Carriers don’t accept “about this tall.” Get details about Forklift Supplier in UAE.
Packing & lashing that actually works (no drama on the quay)
- Lower the forks fully and secure with rated straps or steel chains; fit fork-tip guards to avoid piercing neighboring cargo.
- Check wheels front and back; engage the parking brake; neutral gear; ignition off; battery disconnected (cover terminals).
- Use real lashing points. Counterweights and axle beams usually have engineered points—don’t wrap chains around hydraulic lines or steering linkages.
- Crib the mast if there’s any play. Wooden blocks (ISPM-15 treated) help keep it solid.
- Protect the operator area. Wrap the dash, levers and overhead guard with foam/cardboard + stretch wrap.
- Shrink-wrap sensitive components and add desiccant packs, especially for long sea legs or humid destinations.
- Forks & attachments. Side-shifts, clamps or long forks can be palletized separately and strapped down to save height.
Battery & fuel rules (the part you don’t want to wing)
Batteries and fuels trigger dangerous goods (DG) obligations. Carriers and port authorities care a lot.
Lead acid batteries
- UN numbers: Often UN 2794 (wet, filled with acid) or UN 2800 (non-spillable).
- Packaging: Keep upright in the truck, secure against movement, vent caps closed, terminals covered.
- Doc & label: Safety Data Sheet, DG declaration if needed and IMDG-compliant mark on the unit/crate.
Lithium ion batteries
- UN number: Usually UN 3480 (battery) or else UN 3481 (battery contained in equipment).
- Paperwork: SDS + UN 38.3 test summary from manufacturer and also shipper’s DG declaration.
- Handling: Protect terminals, sturdy enclosure and comply with state-of-charge and packing instructions. Plan extra lead time—DG bookings aren’t last-minute.
LPG cylinders
- Treat as flammable gas (unless properly purged). The safest path: remove, purge and ship empty or not at all. Your buyer can source a compliant tank locally.
Diesel
- Drain to a minimal residual (as per carrier policy), cap lines and declare honestly on the booking. No fuel sloshing around. Get details about Heavy equipment exporter UAE.
Documents you’ll actually need (and why)
Getting the paperwork tidy saves days—sometimes weeks at destination.
- Commercial Invoice: Clear description, brand/ model, serial or VIN, year, condition, price, etc.
- Packing List: Dimension, weight and any detached part (fork, mast, battery).
- Certificate of Origin: Usually issued via Dubai/Abu Dhabi Chamber. Many buyer may require it for duty assessment.
- Export Declaration (UAE Customs): Processed through your chosen port community system. Your forwarder will help.
- Bill of Lading (B/L): RoRo, container or breakbulk—as applicable. Check the consignee/notify details match import permits.
- Insurance (Cargo): All-risk or named perils. If you’re shipping high-value gear, don’t skip this.
- SDS & DG Declaration: For batteries and LPG cylinders. Keep copy with cargo and email scan to buyer.
- Pre-Shipment Inspection: Some destination (e.g., Kenya PVOC, Nigeria SONCAP, Tanzania TBS) may require inspection/certification before loading. Don’t leave this to port week.
- Pro move: Email a photo condition report (all sides + hour meter) to the buyer before stuffing/loading. It stops 90% of “it arrived scratched” arguments.
Costs & timelines (sane expectations)
- RoRo is typically the best value for drive-on units. Container can be cheaper if the forklift fits and you’ve got spare parts to ride along. Flat rack adds OOG fees but solves height problems.
- Expect booking cutoffs about a week before ETD, more for DG. Inland trucking to Jebel Ali/Khalifa: book 48–72 hours ahead with a forklift-capable lowbed if needed.
- Transit times depend on route and transshipment. Middle East → Africa/Asia can be 10–25 days on water; to Europe often 18–30; Americas longer. Add port dwell + customs. Looking for a Pickup Vehicle Export UAE?
Quick buyer checklist (send this with your quote)
- Brand/model, lift capacity, mast type & lowered height
- Year, hour, tire type (pneumatic/solid), attachment detail
- Power type (diesel/LPG/lead acid/lithium), battery spec (V/Ah, SoC)
- Dimensions & weights (truck + any detached parts)
- Photos: front/back/sides/data plate/hour meter
- Ready date for pickup, exact collection point, loading help (ramp/forklift on site?)
- Destination port + any PSI/certification needed
Common pitfall (and how to dodge them)
- Guessing the mast height. Measure it. Twice. Container doors don’t negotiate.
- Leaving the LPG tank on. Remove and purge; declare if shipping separately.
- Loose lashing. If you can rock the truck by hand after securing, it’ll dance at sea. Tighten it.
- Missing SDS/UN 38.3. Lithium shipments get rejected fast without these.
- Untreated wood. Any dunnage/crates must be ISPM-15 compliant. Stamp visible.
- No CO/PSI. If the destination needs certification, book it early. Inspectors don’t appear by magic.
Related Articles:
» Things to Keep in Mind While Buying a New Forklift
» Exporting Forklifts from Dubai: A Complete Overview
» How to Easily Export Forklifts from Dubai Worldwide
» How to Successfully Export Pickup Vehicles from the UAE
» Exporting Forklifts from Dubai Made Easy
Short version (so you can get moving)
- Choose the right method: RoRo when you can, container if it fit, flat rack for tall or heavy lift.
- Pack like a pro: forks down, wheels chocked, real lashing points, sensitive parts protected.
- Respect DG rules: batteries (lead-acid/lithium) and LPG have paperwork—SDS, UN 38.3, DG declarations and specific handling.
- Nail the docs: invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, export declaration and a clean B/L. Add PSI where needed.
- Communicate: share exact dims, weights and photos with your forwarder and buyer. Surprises are expensive.
FAQ’S
1) What documents do I need to export a forklift from the UAE?
Invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, UAE export declaration, bill of lading, cargo insurance; Also add SDS/DG paper for battery/LPG and any required pre-shipment inspection.
2) RoRo, container, or flat rack—which is best?
RoRo if available (drive on/off); container if it fits the door height; flat rack for tall/heavy units with out of gauge masts.
3) How do I ship electric forklifts (lithium/lead-acid)?
Lithium: UN38.3 + SDS, Class 9 DG, terminals protected; Lead-acid: upright, caps closed, terminals covered—declare per SDS.
4) Can I ship an LPG forklift with the cylinder attached?
No, remove and purge the tank; ship empty (or source at destination) per DG rules.
5) Typical cost and transit time from UAE?
Depends on method, size, DG/OOG fee, destination; rough sea time: 7–15 days South Asia, 10–20 East Africa, 18–30 Europe, 30–45 America (plus port/customs handling).