Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU)
The seller delivers only after the goods are unloaded at the destination — the only rule requiring the seller to unload; import clearance and duties are the buyer's.
Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) means the seller delivers only once the goods are unloaded from the arriving means of transport and placed at the buyer's disposal at the named destination. It was renamed from the former DAT (Delivered at Terminal) in Incoterms 2020, with scope broadened from a "terminal" to "any place." DPU is the only one of the 11 rules that requires the seller to unload. The seller bears all costs and risks of reaching the destination and unloading, but not import clearance or duties.
DPU works for any mode. The key difference from DAP is unloading: DAP delivers with the goods ready for unloading on the vehicle (buyer unloads), while DPU requires unloading to be completed (seller unloads and bears the unloading risk). Practical notes: before choosing DPU, confirm the destination has unloading conditions the seller can control (equipment, space, labour), or the seller's unloading risk and cost in a foreign location are hard to manage; likewise pin the destination to a precise point and coordinate import-clearance timing with the buyer to avoid goods arriving that cannot be cleared.
FAQ
- Is DPU the same as the old DAT?
- It is the same term renamed and broadened in Incoterms 2020. DAT meant "Delivered at Terminal," limited to terminals (quays, warehouses, etc.); DPU extends the place from a "terminal" to "any place" and makes clear the seller must unload. The core obligation (delivery after unloading) carries over.
- How do I choose between DPU and DAP?
- It depends on who unloads. If the buyer can unload and the seller does not want foreign-site unloading risk, use DAP (delivery when ready for unloading; buyer unloads). If the contract requires the seller to unload before delivery is complete and the seller is confident it can unload at the destination, use DPU. Unloading at an unfamiliar overseas site is risky for the seller, so choose DPU with care.
Related terms
Sources: https://iccwbo.org/business-solutions/incoterms-rules/incoterms-2020/