Bulk grains and oilseeds represent about 13 per cent, or over 190 Mt of this total. This makes ocean shipping the single most important transportation form for bulk goods. Canadian seaborne grains and oilseeds exports account for an average of 12 per cent of total world seaborne grains and oilseeds shipments. This issue of the Bi-weekly Bulletin looks at the importance of ocean shipping and ocean freight rates to the competitiveness of the Canadian grains and oilseeds industry. There are two types of bulk shipping services.
Dry carriers provide bulk full-load services for commodities such as grain, coal, and iron ore.
With the exception of some shipments to the US, most of the grain exported from Canada is transported in ocean bulk vessels. Wet carriers or tankers provide services for petroleum and other liquid commodities. In addition, vessels operate as either part of a liner service or as tramp vessels. The liner shipping market is composed of carriers that provide service over fixed time and route schedules. Liner service shipments only account for a very small portion of total world grain and feed trade.