A shortage of containers to ship commodities around the world and the consequent soaring in associated freight rates have led to a revival of interest in breakbulk cargoes.
Producers and physical traders of metals, agricultural, chemical and timber products have been starting to book shipments in breakbulk vessels, which cost far less and doesn't require vast amounts of equipment in port.While the vast majority of metals can be shipped this way, it will not be an option for some market participants: Breakbulk cargoes require thousands of tonnes to be loaded, meaning the larger the parcel, the lower the freight. This makes it likely that traders with small cargoes will struggle to make it financially viable,...