February 10, 2026

Advantages of bulk shipping

Bulk shipping is the transport of loose cargo in large quantities by ship. Read about the advantages of this shipping method and how it can suit your transport needs.

Bulk shipping is the transport of loose cargo in large quantities by ship – typically raw materials such as grain, coal, minerals, building materials, biomass, fertilizer, and metals. For companies that regularly handle large quantities of goods, this form of transport can result in lower costs, reduced resource consumption, and a more stable supply chain.

Lower costs per unit

One of the primary advantages of bulk shipping is lower costs per unit. When goods are shipped in large quantities by sea, you avoid the expense of individual packaging and separate handling of each shipment. This means that the total freight cost is often lower compared to sending smaller batches multiple times.

For companies with stable and predictable transport needs, the savings can reduce overall logistics costs over time.

Less packaging and lower resource consumption

Bulk shipping reduces the need for extensive packaging. Instead of individual packages, boxes, and protective materials, goods are transported loose in the ship's hold or in large containers.

This results in both lower material consumption and less waste, which can strengthen the company's overall environmental performance. Fewer packaging materials also mean fewer resources used for production and disposal.

Efficient handling and transshipment

When goods are transported in bulk by ship, loading and unloading can be carried out using specialized equipment such as cranes or conveyor belts. This speeds up handling and reduces the number of manual work processes.

With fewer handling points in the supply chain, the risk of damage and delays is reduced, and goods arrive at their destination in a more stable condition.

Safe handling of classified bulk goods

When bulk goods such as chemicals or other classified products are transported by ship, this places special demands on handling. With an SQAS-certified partner, you can rest assured that applicable rules and safety requirements are complied with throughout the entire process – from unloading to storage and further distribution. This reduces the risk of errors and delays, and you avoid having to coordinate between multiple suppliers with different certification levels.

A more environmentally friendly mode of transport

Shipping generally has lower CO2 emissions per ton of cargo compared to truck transport. For companies that want to reduce their environmental footprint, bulk shipping can therefore be a relevant alternative when dealing with sufficiently large volumes of cargo.

At H. Daugaard , you H. Daugaard access CO2 data for your shipments directly via our customer portal. Here, you can retrieve scope 3 data and get an overview of emissions for both individual shipments and total shipments.

Suitable for large production volumes

Companies with high production volumes or a constant need for raw materials can benefit from bulk shipping. Industries such as food production, construction, energy, and agriculture often depend on regular deliveries of large quantities of materials.

A stable supply of raw materials ensures that production can run without interruptions and makes it easier to plan both inventory and future needs. For companies that depend on raw materials from abroad, bulk shipping can help create the necessary predictability in the supply chain.

In combination with other modes of transport

Once the goods have arrived at the port, they can be transported to their final destination by truck or train. For this reason, bulk shipping is often combined with other modes of transport such as rail or road transport.

We offer shipping from the ports of Kolding and Vejle, where we handle unloading, storage, and further distribution. With warehouses close to the ports and direct access to the rail and motorway networks, goods are transported efficiently to their final destination. This gives you a comprehensive solution where the entire chain from ship to final destination is handled by the same partner.

Is bulk shipping relevant for you?

Bulk shipping is a form of transport that can offer advantages for companies shipping large quantities of uniform products or raw materials. Lower costs per unit, less packaging consumption, and a lower environmental footprint are some of the factors that can make this solution relevant.

However, bulk shipping only makes sense if you have a certain amount of goods. For smaller shipments or varied product types, other modes of transport may be more appropriate.

With over 300 ship calls annually and the capacity to handle cargoes of 1,500-5,000 tons, we have experience with bulk shipping on various scales. If you need advice on whether bulk shipping is suitable for your transport needs, we are happy to help you find the right solution – with a focus on delivery reliability, flexibility, and personal service.