DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) is the Incoterm under which the seller delivers the goods, unloaded from the arriving means of transport, at a named place of destination. It is the only Incoterm under which the seller is obligated to unload the goods at the destination — under every other rule, unloading is the buyer's responsibility.
DPU was introduced in Incoterms 2020, replacing DAT (Delivered at Terminal) from Incoterms 2010. The name change reflects that the delivery place need not be a "terminal" — it can be any agreed point, including the buyer's premises, a warehouse, or a yard, so long as the seller has the practical means to unload there.
Under DPU, the seller must:
- Arrange and pay for all transport to the named destination
- Unload the goods at the destination
- Bear the risk of loss until unloading is complete
- Handle export clearance
Under DPU, the buyer must:
- Handle import clearance and pay duties at destination
- Take delivery of the unloaded goods
DPU is appropriate when the seller has the equipment, expertise, or contractual right to unload at the destination — for example, when delivering machinery that requires specialized handling, or when the seller's freight forwarder has unloading capability at the agreed point.
If the seller does not have practical means to unload at the destination, the parties should use DAP instead (delivery ready for unloading, buyer unloads). Choosing DPU when the seller cannot actually unload creates exposure to demurrage and delay claims.