Chartering by Cargo Type

Start from your cargo. These guides show which ships carry it and how the charter is usually arranged.

• Grain CargoGrain and other agricultural cargoes travel in bulk on dry bulk ships. Here is how a ship is usually chartered for grain.
• Coal, Iron Ore and MineralsCoal, iron ore, bauxite and other minerals are heavy bulk cargoes that move in large parcels on dry bulk ships.
• Steel and Project CargoSteel, breakbulk and project cargo need ships with the right holds, decks and cranes. This guide shows how such cargo is chartered.
• Black Sea grainThe Black Sea is one of the main grain export regions in the world. Wheat, corn, barley and sunflower products go from its ports to Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe.
• Brazil iron oreBrazil is one of the two largest iron ore exporters in the world. Most of the ore goes by sea to China and other steel-making countries in Asia, in the biggest ships in dry bulk.
• South Africa coalSouth Africa exports a large volume of thermal coal by sea. Almost all of it is loaded at one coast terminal and goes to India, Pakistan, other Asian countries and Europe.
• Argentina grainArgentina is a major exporter of soybean meal, soybean oil, corn and wheat. Most of it is loaded at river ports on the Parana, where the draft decides how much a ship can load.
• Cement shippingCement and clinker are heavy, low-value cargoes that travel by sea in large volumes. The main risk is water, and the main choice is between bulk and bags.
• Indonesia coalIndonesia is one of the largest exporters of thermal coal in the world. Most of it is loaded in Kalimantan and Sumatra and goes by sea to China, India and other countries in Asia.
• US Gulf grainThe US Gulf is one of the largest grain export regions in the world. Corn, soybeans and wheat flow down the Mississippi system to terminals near New Orleans and go to Asia, Latin America and other markets.
• Australia iron oreWestern Australia is the largest source of seaborne iron ore. The ore is loaded at a few large ports in the Pilbara and goes mainly to China and to other steel makers in East Asia.
• Canada grainCanada exports wheat, canola, barley and other crops from two coasts and from the Great Lakes. The ports and the ships differ, and the winter changes the shipping plan.
• Black Sea to Egypt wheatEgypt is one of the largest wheat importers in the world, and the Black Sea is its closest large source. The voyage is short, the volume is large and the schedule follows the harvest.
• Brazil soybeans to ChinaBrazil is the largest soybean exporter in the world and China is the largest buyer. The trade fills a large part of the Panamax and Supramax fleet every year.

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