Bulk cargo

Bulk goods are transport goods that have a uniform physical character and are therefore suitable for bulk handling and transport. Bulk cargoes are predominantly production goods that do not go to the end consumer but still have to be further processed.
 
In maritime transport, such cargoes are also bulk cargo if they occupy the entire transport space, even if they would be considered individually as general cargo. In international transportation, this is also referred to as bulk or bulk goods.

Distinction between bulk and general cargo

General cargo refers to goods that can be transported in one piece. This includes, for example, containers, barrels and loaded pallets, but also individual workpieces. If general cargo is transported in large quantities, it can also be referred to as bulk cargo.

Bulk cargo in general, on the other hand, is synonymous with bulk goods. A distinction is made here between solid bulk (dry bulk), such as ore, cement and coal, and liquid bulk (liquid bulk), such as gasoline, crude oil and liquid chemicals. Solid bulk can also be further subdivided into solid bulk in granular form and solid bulk in lumpy form. Different means of transport are required for each type of bulk.

Examples for bulk goods

Bulk cargo is in most cases cargo in bulk (such as coal) and is therefore also referred to as bulk products. However, it can also be liquid products (such as petroleum). Typical examples of bulk cargo are agricultural products such as grain and rapeseed, but coal, crude oil or ore are also frequently transported in bulk.

Bulk properties

Bulk goods are production results of the primary and secondary industries.
Bulk goods are goods which are mainly raw materials. These are intended either for further processing or for basic use.

Favorable purchase of bulk goods with little turnover
When bulk goods are purchased, they are subject to strict conditions on selling price and quality. For this reason, tough price negotiations are often conducted with frequent returns on sales in the single-digit percentage range.

Bulk goods are goods for basic use
Basic utility and usability is the main characteristic for bulk goods. They are either intermediate goods and destined for further processing or for fulfilling consumption needs.