Because of the impact that an in-transportation accident can have on the environment, dry bulk cargo transportation is highly regulated by the industry. As dry bulk cargo is loose, any spills during the voyage mean the cargo is more likely to go directly into the ocean. Not only does this make the cargo extremely difficult to clean up, but also puts both people and wildlife in danger.

Dry bulk commodities are usually divided into major and minor bulks. Examples of minor bulk commodities include steel products, sugars, and cement.

Major dry bulk commodities include properties like iron ore, coal, and grain, which account for nearly two-thirds of global dry bulk trade. Both coal and iron ore are two of the most traded dry bulk commodities in the world. Countries like India, China, and Japan are all heavily involved with the importing of coal for their primary energy and electricity needs. Similarly, grain is another major cargo that makes up seaborne dry bulk trade and accounts for a large proportion of the worldwide total dry bulk trade.

Common characteristics of dry bulk cargo include:

• Uniform in composition or consistent material
• A combination of particles, granules, or other large pieces of material
• A wide range of cargo types excluding liquids and gases can be shipped as ‘dry bulk’
• Dry bulk cargo is loaded directly into cargo spaces free from packaging

There are several key differences between bulk and container shipping for dry goods. With dry bulk shipping, usually the entire vessel needs to be chartered due to the nature of the cargo. With container shipping, it is possible to secure enough space to ship the required volume for your cargo.

With bulk shipping, there are different types of chartering, so companies with frequent transportation requirements will often opt for long-term chartering solutions. As there are no dedicated vessels for individual bulk shipping commodities, the vessels must be cleaned with utmost care to prevent the contamination of cargo from one shipment to another.

There is also a difference when it comes to loading and unloading dry cargo. With container shipping, customers can take ownership of the container at their warehouse where they can fill it and arrange for the container to be picked up and delivered to the port for loading. Conversely, with bulk shipping, loading happens directly in the port where the commodity is loaded directly from a truck, or via a conveyor belt.

Similarly, container shipments can be directly loaded from the port onto waiting truck beds or railroad wagons. They can also be stored in the port until they are picked up. Bulk shipments however need to be unloaded from the ship and then reloaded onto a different mode of transportation.

Key advantages of container shipping include:

• Flexibility in the type of cargo shipped.
• Better safety and security of cargo due to locking mechanisms on containers.
• Faster transportation times for cargo.
• Easier tracking and better overall supply chain management.
• Better economies of scale equalling greater cost efficiency.