ovrseasDPU: Delivered at Place Unloaded
D-group rule · any mode of transport · Incoterms® 2020
DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) means the seller carries the goods to the named place of destination and unloads them there. Risk passes once they are unloaded; import clearance and duties are the buyer’s. It replaced DAT in Incoterms 2020.
- Risk passes
- Once the goods are unloaded at the named destination.
- Main freight
- Paid by the seller
- Insurance
- Neither side is obliged to insure — agree who does
- Customs
- Export: Seller · Import: Buyer
Who pays what under DPU
| Export clearance | Seller |
|---|---|
| Carriage to port / terminal | Seller |
| Loading onto main carriage | Seller |
| Main carriage (freight) | Seller |
| Insurance | Neither obliged |
| Unloading at destination | Seller |
| Import clearance | Buyer |
| Duties and import taxes | Buyer |
How to write DPU on your documents
The rule is only complete with its named place. The destination where the seller unloads — it must be a place where unloading is possible.
DPU Port of Antwerp, Terminal 913, Belgium — Incoterms® 2020
Write it the same way on the quotation, the proforma, the commercial invoice and the shipping instructions — a different place on one document is a different deal.
Use DPU when
- The seller can arrange unloading at the destination (its own agent, a terminal it uses).
- Any destination, the buyer’s own site included, where the seller can arrange the unloading.
Think twice when
- The seller cannot unload at a place it does not control — agree who supplies the crane or forklift, or use DAP.
- Contracts still saying DAT — DAT no longer exists in Incoterms 2020; the closest rule is DPU.
The seller must be able to unload at a place they do not control. Agree who supplies the forklift or crane before signing.
Questions about DPU
- What does DPU mean in shipping?
- DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) means the seller carries the goods to the named place of destination and unloads them there. Risk passes once they are unloaded; import clearance and duties are the buyer’s. It replaced DAT in Incoterms 2020.
- Where does risk pass under DPU?
- Once the goods are unloaded at the named destination.
- Who pays the freight under DPU?
- The seller pays the main carriage.
- Who pays import duties under DPU?
- The buyer. Import clearance, duties and taxes are the buyer’s under every rule except DDP.
- Can DPU be used for containers or air freight?
- Yes. DPU works for any mode of transport, including containers, air, road and rail.
The documents where DPU is written
- Commercial invoice template
Customs and the buyer’s bank read the Incoterm here; it decides which costs belong in the invoice value.
- Proforma invoice template
The buyer opens a letter of credit or pays a deposit on these terms — the same rule must follow through.
- Quotation template
A price means nothing without its rule: «USD 12.50 FOB Busan» and «USD 12.50 DAP Dallas» are different offers.
Compare DPU with
Incoterms® is a registered trademark of the International Chamber of Commerce. This page is an independent summary of how costs and risk are allocated and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ICC. For contract drafting, use the official Incoterms® 2020 rules published by ICC.