Delivered at Place Unloaded (DPU) is an Incoterm (2020 rules) under which the seller delivers the goods, cleared for export, by unloading them at a named place of destination. The seller carries all costs and risk of loss or damage until the goods have been unloaded and placed at the buyer’s disposal. DPU is the only Incoterm that puts the physical act of unloading on the seller, which is what distinguishes it from DAP (Delivered at Place).
How it works
Under DPU, the seller arranges and pays for carriage to the named destination, handles export clearance, and unloads the goods on arrival. Risk transfers to the buyer only after unloading is complete. The buyer is responsible for import clearance, duties, and any onward movement. Because unloading equipment and access can be an issue, the named place should be specific, for example a particular warehouse dock rather than just a city.
Why it matters
DPU shifts more responsibility to the seller than most terms, so it affects how you price and quote. The unloading obligation carries real cost and liability (equipment, labor, demurrage), and those need to sit in the quoted figure. Naming the wrong place, or one the seller cannot safely unload at, can leave you holding risk you did not intend to price.
Example
A supplier quotes 200 units “DPU Buyer’s Rotterdam warehouse, Incoterms 2020.” The supplier pays freight to Rotterdam and unloads at the dock. If a pallet is damaged during unloading, that is the supplier’s problem. Once unloaded, import VAT and duties fall to the buyer.
When you build B2B quotes on Shopify, spell out the Incoterm and named place as a line item or note so the delivery basis is unambiguous before the buyer accepts. See the B2B quoting glossary for related terms like DAP and CIF, or pricing for plan details.