DAP (Delivered at Place)
An Incoterm where the seller delivers goods to a named destination ready for unloading, and the buyer handles unloading and import clearance.
TL;DR: DAP means the seller carries the goods to the named destination at its own cost and risk. Risk passes to the buyer when the goods arrive on the vehicle, ready for unloading.
DAP can be used for any mode of transport. The named place can be a port, a warehouse, a job site or the buyer’s address. The seller clears the goods for export and pays for the main freight and delivery to that place. The buyer is responsible for unloading, import customs clearance, duties and taxes.
DAP replaced the older term DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid), which was removed in Incoterms 2010. Some suppliers still use DDU, and it usually means the same thing as DAP.
The seller bears the risk during the whole journey. The seller does not have to buy insurance, but it has a clear reason to do so. The buyer should still make sure its own policy covers the goods from the moment of delivery.
The buyer must be ready to clear customs on time. If clearance is late, storage, demurrage and detention charges can build up, and these usually fall on the buyer. It helps to appoint a customs broker before the goods arrive.
Plan the unloading as well. Crates and pallets of mosaic tile can weigh a lot, so a site may need a forklift or a truck with a tail lift. State the exact address and unloading needs in the contract. Compare with DPU and DDP.