What Is Dry Bulk vs Break Bulk vs Wet Bulk Cargo

When international shipping is mentioned in conversations, people often envision large and colorful containers on a ship riding waves across the ocean.

While this picture reflects reality, not every freight fits into a box!

A large portion of the commodities is transported loosely in bulk shipping, while others are loaded and unloaded one by one as break-bulk. On the other hand, we also have the liquid freight that travels as a wet bulk cargo, and each method plays a vital role in the supply chain.

This guide outlines the differences between wet bulk cargo, dry bulk cargo, and break bulk cargo to help you identify the key distinctions in cargo transportation.

What Is a Break Bulk Cargo

Whenever the freight is massive – too large, oddly shaped, or simply can’t fit into one of those shipping containers, it’s transported as a “break bulk cargo”.

It’s simple. Instead of packing the freight into tanks and boxes, the goods are typically spread into pieces and individually boarded onto the vessel. You can picture this freight as large and heavy machinery, turbines, and other massive components.

This is the essence of what break-bulk cargo is!

This method is also widely recognized as “break bulk shipping” and was originally developed before containers dominated international freight shipping.

In 2025, the break-bulk cargo is still used when shipping companies need specialized handling equipment or thoughtful loading and unloading. The most important thing, the break bulk cargo rates strictly depend on the freight size, of course, weight, and the complexity of the transport.

Common Examples of Break Bulk Cargo:

Now that we know the break bulk cargo definition, here are some common examples to help you understand break bulk cargo better:

What Are Dry Bulk Commodities

So, what is dry bulk cargo?

In contrast to the breakbulk cargo, which is being boarded piece by piece, the dry bulk cargo takes on a different approach. It involves unpacking the freight and then carrying it loose under the watch of a dry bulk carrier or bulk cargo ship.

These goods are usually raw materials moved in large volumes, poured directly into storage areas, and later discharged with specialized handling equipment.

Common commodities dry bulk are essential to global trade; they include grain, coal, iron ore, and other raw materials that feed industries and supply chains. Well, this segment of dry bulk shipping is often referred to as dry bulk trades, and it forms one of the largest world markets.

Unlike break-bulk freight, these shipments are measured by tonnage, not by individual pieces.

Common Dry Bulk Commodities and Features

Here are some examples of types of dry bulk:

What Is a Wet Bulk Cargo

As we are now aware, the dry bulk cargo unpacks and covers the solid freight; in turn, the wet bulk cargo simply refers to commodities that are transported in tanks. The web bulk cargo is not simply being poured into open holds; instead, it is being hauled in specialized tanks and compartments crafted to keep the liquid freight stable.

This is one of the most important sectors in bulk cargo transportation, since among the safe liquid commodities, there are a lot of different hazardous materials like chemicals and fuels.

Since liquids require much greater attention than solid freight, moving them sometimes needs specialized equipment such as pumps and strict regulations. Contrasting the breakbulk cargo, or the bulk and break bulk solids, wet cargo focuses mainly on fluids.

Common Wet Bulk Commodities and Features

Here are some examples of common wet bulk commodities:

How Are These Bulk Cargoes Transported

The transportation of bulk freight is no joke. It requires a combination of services, vessels, bulk cargo transportation solutions, and solid bulk shipment planning.

Of course, based on the type of cargo, whether it’s dry bulk, break bulk, or web bulk cargo, different methods make the transportation easy, seamless, and cost-effective.

1. Transport Dry Bulk

The dry bulk shipping chain strictly relies on dry bulk freight carriers that specialize in handling dry bulk commodities like raw materials, including coal, grain, sand, concrete, and many others. So, these shipping vessels typically include a hatch cover for easy access, and the bulk cargo ship employees use conveyor belts to manage the bulk shipments.

2. Handling Break Bulk Cargo

In contrast to the dry bulk, the break bulk cargo services often feature individual loading using cranes and handling equipment designed for specific freight. This approach works excellently for breakbulk shipping of project cargo such as vehicles, machinery, and everything else that doesn’t fit in the regular bulk cargo containers.

In short, the break-bulk freight remains essential for the transportation of oversized freight!

3. Moving Wet Bulk Cargo

The movement of wet bulk cargo happens through liquid containers, also known as “tankers”. They can carry everything from food-grade liquids to hazardous materials like chemicals and fuels, which are being pumped into the compartments.

An important thing with web bulk commodity liquids is that the crew members must maintain continuous monitoring and strict regulation to keep up the stability.

4. Specialized Bulk and Break Bulk Operations

Some cargo bulk carriers are equipped for both bulk and break-bulk cargo, including oversized, heavy lift, and out-of-gauge cargo. These ships are key for transporting goods that require extra care, offering flexibility beyond standard bulk freight operations.

Oversized, Heavy Lift and Out-of-Gauge Cargo - Where to Find Carriers?

The shipping of oversized, heavy lift, and out-of-gauge cargo needs special bulk cargo carriers that are expert-vetted and well-experienced in break bulk freight.

These carriers can handle your complex bulk shipments securely by using advanced handling equipment and customized planning and strategy. If you’re looking for companies that can plan out your bulk shipment and provide you with the best approach, look no further.

With tools like the FreightRun Quote Calculator, you can instantly discover, estimate, and choose the right carrier in minutes.

We strongly encourage you to visit FreightRun.com and compare break-bulk cargo freight rates to identify available bulk cargo and break-bulk cargo services.