Definition of Bulk Freight
What is bulk freight?
Bulk freight refers to any product transported without packaging or individual containers. The entire contents are poured, pumped, or discharged directly into a hold, bin, or tank.
This can include grains, chemicals, or raw materials.
Unlike containerized or palletized cargo, bulk freight requires equipment adapted for loading and unloading. Optimization focuses on volume, density, and product safety rather than packaging.
Types of products transported in bulk
Bulk food products
Grains (wheat, corn, barley), coffee beans, sugar, or rice are transported as dry bulk to preserve their quality and control costs. A network combining silos, Archimedean screws, and conveyor belts ensures smooth transport, minimizing transshipments and optimizing logistics operations.
Chemical bulk products
Granulated fertilizers, powdered polymers, and industrial liquids (oil, solvent) are carried in specialized tanks or railcars. The handling of hazardous products requires strict monitoring of temperature, pressure, and pH.
Minerals and raw materials
Coal, iron ore, sand, stones, and construction materials are shipped aboard bulk carriers designed to handle massive weights. Solid bulk shipping is considered the backbone of the steel and construction industries.
Other bulk products
Recycling now relies on bulk transport for shredded plastics, glass cullet, and fragmented aluminum. These new flows expand the range of bulk goods handled by MWT Sourcing.
Bulk transportation methods
Maritime transport
Bulk carriers can load up to 180,000 tons of solid bulk (ore, grains) and sail major maritime routes between Brazil-Europe or Australia-Asia.
Deep holds, automatic ballasts (for balance), and double hulls ensure fast loading and safe operations.
Container ships equipped with box liners carry up to 50,000 tons of bulk or liquid cargo on return trips. This avoids empty hauls and optimizes logistics costs.
Land transport: trucks and trains
For short or medium distances, tipper trucks offer flexibility. For heavy corridors, rail transport provides an excellent cost-per-ton ratio, especially for heavy materials.
Air transport
Although rarely used, air transport remains an option for certain pharmaceutical powders or high-value products requiring fast delivery.
Advantages of bulk transport
Cost reduction
Bulk eliminates the need for films, bags, or boxes. This reduces packaging, handling, and waste generation.
Transporting large quantities
A single batch of several thousand tons reduces stops, costs, and the carbon footprint of transport. Bulk maximizes payload and optimizes the freight rate.
Flexibility and efficiency
The same silo, bin, or hold can accommodate various products after cleaning. This modularity streamlines logistics and shortens lead times.
Why choose MWT Sourcing for your bulk freight transport?
MWT Sourcing’s expertise in bulk transport
For over fifteen years, MWT Sourcing has coordinated bulk freight transport, both solid and liquid, from port loading to off-port storage.
Our teams are well-versed in French regulations, port site security, and HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) management.
Tailored transport solutions to meet your needs
At MWT Sourcing, we offer an integrated solution: maritime chartering, road and rail transport, warehouse consolidation, quality control, and insurance.
You can also find a sourcing agent to secure upstream purchasing.
Benefits of working with MWT Sourcing
Thanks to a dedicated team, proven shipping partnerships, and real-time logistics monitoring, MWT Sourcing guarantees:
- Enhanced safety: GPS tracking, electronic seals, and daily logistics reports;
- Great flexibility: selection of transport mode adapted to each type of goods;
- Reliability: framework contracts, dedicated teams, access to various types of containers for mixed cargo flows.
When well managed, bulk freight reduces logistics costs, speeds up flows, and strengthens the competitiveness of French companies. Thanks to its expertise, MWT Sourcing secures every bulk shipment by providing consulting, planning, execution, and monitoring—all through a single management interface.
Contact us to launch your next shipment.
