Delivered Duty Paid (DDP): Meaning in Shipping

Delivered duty paid (DDP) is a trade term where the seller delivers the goods to the buyer’s named place and covers import duties, taxes, and clearance. In simple terms: the buyer receives the shipment with most border-related costs already handled by the seller.

When to Use This Term

Use it when you want the seller to take on the biggest “surprise costs” and paperwork risks at the destination. It’s useful because it can:

  • reduce delays caused by unpaid duties or missing documents
  • make total landed cost easier to predict
  • simplify budgeting for buyers who don’t manage imports often

However, it’s not a substitute for a clear contract. Always confirm who pays local delivery fees, storage charges, and what happens if customs flags the goods.

How It Relates to Transportify

Even when a deal is set up as delivered duty paid (DDP), someone still needs reliable delivery on the ground. Transportify helps by providing on-demand and scheduled delivery services for pickups, transfers, and last stops to the final location. This supports smoother handoffs once the seller has cleared the shipment and it’s ready to move to the buyer.

Related Terms

Bill of Lading

Delivered At Place

Ex Works

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Noel Abelardo
Deputy Country Director