Short answers, pulled from the story.
Bulk cargo is product cargo transported unpackaged in large quantities, in either liquid or granular solid form. It is typically dropped or poured using a spout or shovel bucket into bulk carrier ships, railroad wagons, or tanker trucks.
Dry bulk cargo is any solid material carried in bulk, including coal, grain, iron ore, bauxite, and wood chips. Wet bulk cargo is any liquid material carried in closed tanks, such as petroleum, gasoline, liquefied natural gas, fruit juices, and vegetable oil.
The Baltic Dry Index, commonly called the BDI, is published by the Baltic Exchange in London and benchmarks the cost of moving dry bulk commodities along popular sea routes. It is derived from the Baltic Capesize, Panamax, Supramax, and Handysize indices, and is widely used as an indicator of global economic activity.
Breakbulk cargo is bulk material that has been boxed or drummed and palletised rather than transported loose. It is a packaged form of cargo that would otherwise travel in bulk, and is classified separately from standard bulk shipments.
Freight Futures, known as FFAs, are financial instruments used to settle contracts on shipping costs. Some of the Baltic Exchange's bulk shipping indices are used to settle these FFAs, linking the physical bulk cargo market to financial derivatives trading.
Major specialized bulk cargo ports include the Port of Port Hedland in Australia, the Port of Rotterdam, the Port of Vancouver, the Port of Liverpool, the Port of Tyne, the Port of Amsterdam, and the Port of Hamilton in Canada.