Trade Tools

Bulk Vessel Size Guide

Bulk dry vessel size reference for international commodity trade. Handysize, Handymax, Supramax, Ultramax, Panamax, Kamsarmax, Post-Panamax, Capesize. DWT ranges, cargo capacity, draft, port suitability for Egyptian commodity exports.

Bulk Vessel Size Guide — From Handysize to Capesize

International dry bulk shipping uses 7 standard vessel size classes, distinguished by deadweight tonnage (DWT), beam, draft, and the canals/ports they can transit. Understanding which vessel size matches your cargo + lane economics is critical for FOB/CIF pricing accuracy.

The 7 standard dry bulk vessel classes

Class	DWT range	Typical cargo capacity	Draft	LOA	Beam
Handysize	10,000-35,000	8,000-30,000 MT	8-11 m	130-180 m	22-28 m
Handymax	35,000-50,000	30,000-44,000 MT	11-12 m	180-200 m	28-32 m
Supramax	50,000-60,000	44,000-54,000 MT	12-13 m	195-210 m	32-34 m
Ultramax	60,000-65,000	54,000-58,000 MT	13 m	200 m	34 m
Panamax	65,000-80,000	58,000-72,000 MT	14 m	225 m	32 m (max for old Panama locks)
Kamsarmax	80,000-90,000	72,000-82,000 MT	14.5 m	229 m	32 m
Capesize	100,000+ (typical 170-180k)	90,000-170,000 MT	18 m+	290 m	45 m

Egyptian port compatibility matrix

Port	Max draft	Typical largest vessel	Notes
Damietta (EGDAM)	15 m	Kamsarmax, partial Capesize	Egypt's deepest container + bulk port
Alexandria (EGALY)	14 m	Panamax/Kamsarmax	Older infrastructure, slower turnaround
El Dekheila (EGEDK)	17 m	Capesize	Deep-water terminal, large cement + iron ore
Ain Sokhna (EGSOK)	17 m	Capesize	Red Sea side, container hub
Port Said East (EGPSE)	18.5 m	Capesize+	New container terminal, deepest in Egypt
Al-Arish (EGAAC)	9 m	Handysize	Coastal sea-salt port, limited
Adabiya (EGADA)	10-11 m	Handymax	Niche bulk
Suez (EGSUZ)	11 m	Handymax/Supramax	Mostly transit, some discharge
Safaga (EGSGA)	10 m	Handysize	Niche, phosphate exports

Cargo-vessel matching by commodity

Cement + Clinker

Handysize (15-25k MT)

typical for West African destinations (Lomé, Dakar, Abidjan, Tema)

Handymax/Supramax (30-50k MT)

East African + GCC routes

Panamax/Kamsarmax (60-80k MT)

long-haul to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Caribbean

Salt (de-icing + industrial)

Handysize (15-25k MT)

most common for Mediterranean + North African + GCC + East African

Handymax (35-45k MT)

US East Coast winter pre-positioning, large European DOT contracts

Panamax (60k+)

rare for salt; used only for very large CIS / Russia / Brazil contracts

Gypsum + Plaster

Handysize/Handymax (15-45k MT)

GCC, India, East Africa

Supramax (50k+)

large Indian cement industry annual contracts

Fertilizers (Urea, DAP, NPK, MAP)

Handymax/Supramax (35-55k MT)

typical

Panamax (60-80k MT)

very large tender shipments (East Africa, South America, India)

Iron ore + bauxite + coal

Capesize (150-180k MT)

standard

Newcastlemax / VLOC

Pilbara → China bulk

Special vessel-class notes

Suez Canal Capacity

SCNT (Suez Canal Net Tonnage) is the basis for transit fees
Suezmax refers historically to tankers/bulk vessels at the canal's maximum drift restrictions
New Suez Canal expansion (2015) allows two-way Capesize transit
Cargo to/from Mediterranean Egyptian ports avoids canal entirely; Red Sea Egyptian ports use canal for Atlantic/European destinations

Panama Canal expansion

Original locks: max beam 32.3 m (true Panamax)
Expanded locks (2016): allow up to 49 m beam, 366 m LOA — opens Post-Panamax routes for Capesize-style vessels
Affects Asia ↔ US East Coast + Europe ↔ Pacific Latin America economics

Vessel speed + bunker

Bulk vessels: eco-speed 11-12 knots, service speed 14-15 knots, full speed 16-17 knots
Voyage planning: roughly 0.4-0.5 days per 1,000 nautical miles at service speed
Damietta → Hamburg ~3,200 nm = ~12-15 day voyage at service speed

How vessel size affects your CIF cost

Larger vessels = lower $/MT freight, but require deeper port draft, larger cargo lot size, longer lay-can. Smaller vessels = higher $/MT but more flexible.

Typical breakeven for Egyptian commodity exports:

Under 5,000 MT

containerised (cheaper than partial bulk)

5,000-15,000 MT

Handysize partial cargo, often shared with co-loader

15,000-30,000 MT

full Handysize, primary

30,000-65,000 MT

full Handymax/Supramax/Ultramax

65,000-90,000 MT

full Panamax/Kamsarmax

90,000+ MT

full Capesize (only for iron ore, coal, large bauxite / gypsum)

How Egypt Globe Group handles vessel matching

We have framework rate agreements with 12+ shipping lines covering Handysize → Kamsarmax bulk vessels from all 7 Egyptian export ports. We quote freight as part of CIF based on vessel size that fits your cargo lot.

Request a freight + CIF quote →

Quality at the Core — the verification behind the reference

The figures on this page are reference data; the cargo itself is verified lot by lot. Egypt Globe Group was incorporated in 2014 with a dedicated internal Quality Assurance division, and every consignment passes five verification gates between the source and the buyer's arrival laboratory. Specification is guaranteed at the port of loading and binding under the sales contract.

Verification chain5 gates · every consignment

1

Gate 1

Extraction / source

EvidenceSource sampling on every production lot

Source laboratory · per lot
2

Gate 2

Processing

EvidenceWashing, screening, drying, grading or milling verified against the contract specification

Plant QC · per batch
3

Gate 3

Port laboratory

EvidenceFull analysis against the contract specification; Certificate of Analysis or Mill Test Certificate issued before the Bill of Lading

EGG port QC lab · per shipment
4

Gate 4

Independent inspection

EvidencePre-shipment sampling, witness testing, draft survey or tally; sealed retained samples held 90 days

TÜV Austria / SGS / Intertek / BV · per vessel
5

Gate 5

Destination acceptance

EvidenceCoA cross-referenced with the buyer's arrival laboratory; retained samples arbitrate any variance

Buyer laboratory · on discharge

Quality & compliance — the QA charter, inspection partners and destination conformity programmes
Inspection & QC · Trade documentation · Loading ports
Request a quote — priced FOB / CIF / CFR offer, sample Certificate of Analysis and inspection protocol

Contents· 8 sections

01Overview
02The 7 standard dry bulk vessel classes
03Egyptian port compatibility matrix
04Cargo-vessel matching by commodity
05Special vessel-class notes
06How vessel size affects your CIF cost
07How Egypt Globe Group handles vessel matching
08Quality at the Core — the verification behind the reference

Priced offers

Ready for a quote?

FOB / CIF / CFR pricing from 7 Egyptian ports — turnaround once stock, laycan and freight are confirmed.

Request Quote

More in Trade Tools

De-icing Salt Standards Worldwide — EN 16811-1, ASTM D632, BS 3247, GOST

De-icing salt standards worldwide — 84 national & regional road-salt (NaCl) specifications across 6 regions: EN 16811-1, ASTM D632 + AASHTO M-143, BS 3247, GOST 13830, SS-EN. NaCl purity, gradation, moisture, anti-caking. Egypt Globe Group grades bulk rock & sea salt to every standard.

Egypt HS Codes — Export Tariff Codes for Salt, Cement & Fertilizer

Egypt HS code reference for exports — Harmonised System tariff codes: 2501 salt, 2523 cement & clinker, 3105 fertilizer, 2807 sulphuric acid, 2520 gypsum, 7214 rebar, 5201 cotton. Full commodity HS code glossary.

Country import guides — Egyptian exports

How to import Egyptian commodities to your country. Customs, tariffs, documentation, free-trade agreements, lead times. Country-specific guides for Kenya, Nigeria, India, Saudi Arabia.

Incoterms 2020 — Complete Reference for Egyptian Exports

Incoterms 2020 reference for international commodity trade with Egypt. Full breakdown of all 11 Incoterms: EXW, FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, DDP, FAS, FOB, CFR, CIF — when each is appropriate, who pays, who bears risk.

Frequently asked questions

What are the standard dry bulk vessel classes?

Seven classes by deadweight: Handysize 10,000–35,000 DWT; Handymax 35,000–50,000; Supramax 50,000–60,000; Ultramax 60,000–65,000; Panamax 65,000–80,000; Kamsarmax 80,000–90,000; Capesize 100,000+, typically 170–180k DWT.

How much cargo does each bulk vessel class carry?

Handysize 8,000–30,000 MT; Handymax 30,000–44,000 MT; Supramax 44,000–54,000 MT; Ultramax 54,000–58,000 MT; Panamax 58,000–72,000 MT; Kamsarmax 72,000–82,000 MT; Capesize 90,000–170,000 MT.

Which Egyptian ports can take a Capesize vessel?

Port Said East at 18.5 m is the deepest in Egypt, and El Dekheila and Ain Sokhna both carry 17 m. Damietta at 15 m takes Kamsarmax and partial Capesize. At the shallow end, Al-Arish (9 m) and Safaga (10 m) are Handysize ports, and Adabiya (10–11 m) and Suez (11 m) take Handymax.

Which vessel size suits a bulk salt parcel?

Handysize at 15–25k MT is the most common for Mediterranean, North African, GCC and East African lanes. Handymax at 35–45k MT is used for US East Coast winter pre-positioning and large European DOT contracts. Panamax is rare for salt — only very large CIS, Russian or Brazilian contracts.

When is containerised cheaper than a bulk vessel?

Under 5,000 MT containerised is cheaper than a partial bulk cargo. From 5,000–15,000 MT a Handysize partial cargo applies, often shared with a co-loader; 15,000–30,000 MT a full Handysize; 30,000–65,000 MT a Handymax, Supramax or Ultramax; 65,000–90,000 MT a Panamax or Kamsarmax; above 90,000 MT a full Capesize.

Other questions? Email our export desk — the export desk replies to every request.