Selling an old tractor unit: export "to Africa" or consignment sale

If you own an old tractor unit that has "seen life" – it is still a liquid asset that can be sold. But it is important to find the right answer to one question: where do you look for a real buyer?

For tractor units of older emission standards – Euro 2, Euro 3 – Ukraine's secondary market responds weakly. The reason is not always the condition of the truck. Even a well-kept old tractor unit does not always convince a Ukrainian buyer. High mileage and the risk of constant repair costs push carriers to look mostly toward fresher Euro 5 or Euro 6 trucks. The Ukrainian market is gradually moving toward stricter environmental requirements defined by Law of Ukraine No. 2739-IV. So old Euro 2 and Euro 3 trucks already look almost uninteresting for the domestic market.

In practice, there are two scenarios in this situation: look for effective ways to sell the truck in Ukraine, or send the tractor unit "to Africa".

How to sell an old tractor unit in Ukraine

Selling an old tractor unit in Ukraine is realistic, but a plain listing will work poorly. And if the truck is presented the wrong way, the chance of a sale drops close to zero.

An owner often values the tractor unit based on their own investment in it: "I replaced parts", "it still runs", "it's no worse than others". A buyer thinks differently: will this tractor unit cover the needs of the job, and will it eat up the whole budget on the first repairs? If there is a big gap between the owner's price and the buyer's assessment, the sale drags on. But before cutting the price sharply, it is worth first understanding the other reasons why heavy equipment stays unsold for a long time: sometimes the fix isn't a discount but proper photos, an honest description, the right price and access to the right buyer.

If the tractor unit can still work within Ukraine, is in reasonably good technical condition, and the owner has time to negotiate, the best solution is a consignment lot. Through consignment sale of heavy equipment, the tractor unit gets more than just another listing – it gets a full presentation: inspection, photos, description, promotion, showings on the lot, and communication with buyers who are already looking for equipment. tirkomis takes on the selling side, while the owner keeps the chance of getting a better price than with a private sale.

But if, even after a proper presentation, the Ukrainian market doesn't respond, the tractor unit sits for a long time, calls are few, or buyers offer a much lower price, then it's time to move to the second scenario – contact a tirkomis manager about export sale.

When "Africa" makes sense

If a truck sits "for sale" for months, or even gets offers, but at a price far below expectations, it means that on the carriers' market this particular unit no longer holds much value.

However, on the "African market" old equipment from Europe still sees strong demand. Buyers there, by contrast, look at simplicity of design and the availability of parts for repair. Because of this, an old tractor unit that is already hard to sell in Ukraine can still be attractive for export. But it's important to understand: "Africa" is not about the highest price – it's about a faster sale "to Africa" at the buyer's price.

Take the DAF Euro 5 as an example. In Ukraine, such tractor units are still in demand: for many carriers this is still a working option for domestic haulage. If a DAF Euro 5 is in reasonably good technical condition, it makes more sense to sell it in Ukraine. That way the owner has a chance of getting a higher price.

A different situation is when such a tractor unit has already "seen life": high mileage, needing significant investment, or simply no longer drawing interest on the market. In that case it can be considered for sale "to Africa", but at a much lower price – roughly up to $6,000.

That price is tied to competition: in Europe there are still plenty of Euro 5 trucks, and because of modern Euro 6 emission standards, they have long been considered older equipment. There's no reason for an African buyer to overpay for a Ukrainian DAF just because this model is still popular here. So the logic works like this: a DAF Euro 5 in good condition – sell on the domestic market; a "tired" DAF Euro 5, or one that needs a quick sale – "Africa", but at the corresponding price.

So an export sale "to Africa" suits an owner who wants to get money faster for equipment that is already of little interest on the secondary market.

Which models African buyers are interested in

Most often "African clients" consider older Euro 2 and Euro 3 models with manual transmissions, though automatic gearboxes and Euro 5 units are also possible. Among the popular requests:

• Renault Magnum (Euro 2 / Euro 3), Premium
• DAF XF (Euro 3, Euro 5), CF
• MAN (TGA/Commander)
• Mercedes-Benz (Actros/Axor)

At the same time, this list doesn't limit the options to only these models. These are simply the popular ones that most often go "to Africa". So we recommend sending all types of old heavy equipment to the tirkomis manager – reach out through our catalog or the contacts on the site. The main thing is finding the right buyer for a specific unit, and that's exactly what tirkomis does: assessing the equipment, checking demand, and advising whether it's better to sell it to Africa or list it on consignment in Ukraine.

Consignment or Africa: which to choose

Frequently asked questions

Can an old tractor unit be sold to Africa?

Yes, if there is demand for it. Most often it's older Euro 2, Euro 3, and some Euro 5 units that are considered.

Which tractor units are most often sold to Africa?

Usually these are Renault Magnum, Renault Premium, DAF XF, DAF CF, MAN TGA, MAN Commander, Mercedes-Benz Actros and Axor. But buyers can be found for other models too.

When is it better to sell a tractor unit through consignment?

When the tractor unit is still in reasonably good condition, can work in Ukraine, and the owner wants a higher price and is willing to wait for a buyer.

When is it better to consider Africa?

When the tractor unit sits for a long time, calls are few, buyers push the price down hard, or the equipment is already of little interest to Ukrainian carriers.

Why is the price lower for Africa?

Because African buyers compare Ukrainian equipment with European alternatives. If a similar tractor unit is cheaper in Europe, the Ukrainian price needs to stay competitive.

What does tirkomis do in these cases?

tirkomis assesses old equipment, checks demand for export to Africa, and advises which is more profitable: selling to Africa or a consignment sale in Ukraine.