Ocean Transportation
Our Business
About Cargill Ocean Transportation
We are a leading mover of dry and wet bulk cargo and one of the world’s largest traders of freight markets. With a fleet of about 700 chartered vessels operating globally at any one time and 75% of our activities executed for our third-party customers, we have been operating in the industry since 1956. Headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, we maintain a strong presence with ten offices worldwide.
Every day, we move our customers’ bulk goods around the world so they can help keep the global economy running. We combine our deep expertise in shipping, logistics and risk management with the latest digital technology and green solutions, to ensure unparalleled execution for our customers across our portfolio of freight, fuel and sustainability solutions.
Here’s a closer look at why partnering with Cargill Ocean Transportation can make the difference for your business.
A world-class bulk cargo fleet
The backbone of our leadership in bulk cargo services is our fleet of time-chartered vessels, renowned for being amongst the safest, most modern, and energy-efficient in the industry. Our teams rigorously inspect these vessels, scrutinizing their design, condition and performance. We also work closely with vessel owners to invest in upgrades that enhance safety, performance and more.
Additionally, we vet all our vessels through RightShip’s leading framework for both safety and greenhouse gas emissions. We adhere to a strict policy of avoiding ships with the lowest ratings, striving to select vessels in the top three ratings for our long-term time charters. In 2023, 88% of our fleet was rated A through D for greenhouse gas emissions by RightShip on their seven-point scale.[1]
Our time-chartered fleet comprises a range of bulk cargo vessel sizes, allowing us to meet our customers’ specific needs and stay flexible as those needs evolve. It enables us to move hundreds of millions of metric tons of cargo each year in an efficient and cost-effective way. Combined with our capabilities, this also allows us to offer a wider range of services like freight risk management, parceling, bunker procurement and more.
A team of ocean shipping experts focused on you
We understand the stress that comes with having cargo on the water or at a port. Our 370 employees around the globe are dedicated to one daily mission: ensuring our customers’ cargo gets where it needs to go safely, sustainably and on time. We take pride in earning your trust and the confidence to partner beyond any one voyage.
When you ship with Cargill Ocean Transportation, you can expect:
- Regular, detailed updates
- Specialized guidance for your specific cargo
- Flexibility as circumstances change
- Efficient, timely documentation
Most of all, we provide peace of mind to you through the strong skills and expertise that each member of our team brings to the table. Get to know more about our team and what we stand for.
A truly global perspective
When you ship and trade as much freight as we do, you get an unparalleled vantage point on the world’s trade flows across several different sectors. Add to this Cargill’s freight risk management expertise built up over 160 years and cutting-edge analytics capabilities, and you have a unique point of view.
We put these insights to work for our customers in a number of ways, including specific offerings to help you manage risk and mitigate volatility in your business. For some customers, this can include:
- Structured pricing solutions for both freight costs and bunkering that help you manage volatility while maintaining optionality
- Physical fleet swaps to give you the benefits of a time-charter fleet without the operational risks, hassle or costs
- Market insights such as freight advisory and position management to help you in your decision-making
It starts with a conversation about what you need from an ocean transportation partner and how we can best help you achieve your business objectives.
Confidence in an uncertain world
We have been in the ocean shipping business for nearly 70 years. We are here for the long haul. Additionally, we leverage the financial strength of Cargill, which holds an “A” rating from both Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, making us one of the world’s only A-rated shipping companies. Our embedded risk management governance function oversees risk limits, trading policies, counterparty risk and more. So, you can count on us to be here tomorrow, next year and far into the future.
Most importantly, you can depend on us to keep our word. When we say we’ll do something, we do it. This commitment is part of our strong values-driven culture that has been the foundation of Cargill since its earliest days. As one of our company leaders put it over a century ago: “There is one thing we have always been proud of and that is our word is as good as our bond.”
Doing business with Cargill Ocean Transportation means less worry and more confidence.
[1] In December 2023, RightShip adjusted the criteria for its rating system from a seven-point (A-G) scale to a five-point (A-E) scale. Our future reporting will reflect this change.