DELIVERED AT PLACE
DAP shipping from China, planned to an agreed destination
Keep the delivery point and import responsibilities clear from the start. Discuss a DAP shipment with CTIDDP and align freight, destination arrangements and the buyer’s clearance responsibilities before booking.
What DAP means for your shipment
Delivered at Place is a trade term for delivery to an agreed destination, with the goods on the arriving vehicle and ready to be unloaded. The buyer handles import clearance and associated import duties and taxes. The precise destination should be identified in the sales agreement.
For logistics planning, “DAP India” is not a sufficiently detailed instruction. The quotation needs a specific delivery point and a workable plan for the import and receiving stages.
CTIDDP’s quotation sets out the services it will arrange. It does not replace the buyer–seller contract.
What needs to be agreed
A useful DAP plan answers four practical questions:
- Where is delivery completed? Identify the terminal, warehouse or other named location.
- Who handles import clearance? Confirm the buyer’s arrangements and the authorised parties involved.
- What transport is included? Establish the origin movement, international freight and any onward transport.
- How will the goods be received? Clarify access, unloading arrangements and the receiving contact.
DAP and DDP: the key distinction
| Planning question | DAP | DDP |
|---|---|---|
| Is a named destination needed? | Yes | Yes |
| Who normally carries import-clearance responsibility under the trade term? | Buyer | Seller |
| Who normally bears import duties and taxes under the trade term? | Buyer | Seller |
| Is delivery generally before unloading from the arriving vehicle? | Yes | Yes |
The exact logistics services, applicable charges and any separately agreed arrangements must still be documented. Neither delivery term by itself guarantees insurance coverage, cargo eligibility or a particular transit time.
Trade-term reference: ICC Academy’s DAP and DDP explanation.
Building the logistics scope
Depending on the approved shipment arrangement, your enquiry may cover supplier collection, cargo receipt, freight coordination and onward delivery planning. These are items to discuss, not services automatically included in every DAP quote.
For a full-container shipment, share the supplier location and suitable origin port. For LCL, discuss cargo readiness and receiving instructions for the Nansha consolidation workflow.
Before the goods leave China
Agree the commercial destination, identify the party managing import formalities and check whether the product requires additional information or approvals. Align the supplier’s documents with the cargo being shipped.
A clear plan also identifies what happens if clearance is delayed or the receiving location cannot accept delivery. Storage, waiting, extra handling and revised delivery costs should be addressed in the quotation conditions rather than left implicit.
Information for a DAP quotation
Share the product description, supplier location, destination address, package count, dimensions, gross weight and expected readiness date. Explain who will manage import clearance and whether delivery access or unloading needs special coordination.
If you do not yet know the preferred cargo arrangement, select “Please advise me” when submitting your enquiry.
Before you book
Does DAP automatically mean delivery to my warehouse?
No. It depends on the named destination. A warehouse can be the agreed place, but transport to that warehouse must be feasible and included in the agreed scope.
Are import duties included in DAP?
Under the DAP trade term, the buyer carries import-duty and tax responsibilities. Read the quotation’s inclusions and exclusions alongside the sales agreement.
Can DAP be used with FCL and LCL shipments?
The trade term is separate from the cargo arrangement. Ask the team to assess the combination for the route, goods and delivery point.
Will CTIDDP act as the importer?
Do not assume this. The responsible importer and customs arrangements must be identified for the shipment.
Can I request DAP for another country?
Yes, as an enquiry. Destination-specific availability and the commercial scope must be confirmed before booking.
Plan the delivery point before you plan the shipment
Send your route and cargo details so we can assess the transport scope and questions that need to be resolved.