On the operations desk, DAP carries the seller's risk all the way to the named destination but stops short of discharge, so a forwarder must confirm the buyer books the unloading resources and handles import customs and duties at arrival. The decision the term drives is where risk transfers and which party owns unloading and import clearance, which shapes how the destination leg and the customs entry are quoted. The clean line is against DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded), where the seller also unloads at destination, whereas under DAP the goods are delivered ready for unloading and the buyer unloads. It also sits below DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), where the seller additionally clears the goods for import and pays the duties, whereas under DAP the buyer carries import clearance and duties.
Glossary
DAP (Delivered at Place)
Delivered at Place (DAP) is the any-mode Incoterm under which the seller delivers when the goods are placed at the buyer's disposal on the arriving means of transport, ready for unloading at the named place of destination, with the buyer responsible for unloading and for import clearance.