DHL's Bulk Shipping (BBX) Explained

What does DHL Breakbulk Express (BBX)?

DHL Express Breakbulk (BBX) is a specialized shipping service that allows businesses to send multiple shipments as one consolidated shipment under a single air waybill (AWB) and Customs invoice. After consolidation, the bulk shipment is loaded onto the transport vehicle or aircraft, with careful load procedures to ensure safe handling. Once the shipment clears Customs at the destination gateway, it is deconsolidated (“broken down”), with individual packages unloaded, transported to their final destinations, and delivered to individual receivers without having to ship each package separately. 

DHL Breakbulk Express (BBX) offers a powerful solution for companies sending multiple shipments to a single country or the EU. By consolidating multiple individual items into one shipment, BBX saves you time, money, resources, and streamlines the entire process from customs clearance to final delivery.

Who can benefit from bulk shipping?

·       Manufacturers and wholesalers shipping large, high-volume freight (e.g., pallets, crates, skids) to one main customer, distributor, or regional warehouse overseas. Common examples of breakbulk cargo include boxes, bags, drums, barrels, rolls, reels, vehicles, and steel girders.

·       Exporters sending bulk orders of standardized goods to multiple end receivers in the same country that benefit from physical consolidation into one shipment for reduced freight and customs costs.

·       Businesses needing streamlined customs clearance on big B2B or B2C shipments where all cargo is sold to a single party but destined to multiple end customers.

The top benefits of bulk shipping with Breakbulk Express (BBX)

1. Lower Your Customs Clearance Costs

Bundling shipments under a single customs declaration means you avoid paying clearance fees for every package. This allows businesses to cut importing costs significantly, enabling more competitive pricing for customers.

2. Make Your Deliveries Faster and More Reliable

Bulk shipping from DHL eliminates the delays caused by processing hundreds of individual shipments separately. Consolidation and single-entry clearance streamline the entire journey, reducing risks of delays and lost packages.

3. Simplify Documentation

Instead of preparing multiple air waybills and invoices, BBX allows you to submit one customs invoice and one AWB, minimizing paperwork and administrative burdens.

4. Reduce Warehousing and Storage Costs

With consolidated shipping, there’s no need for temporary storage or expensive overseas distribution centers. Goods move directly from your facility to final recipients.

5. Enhance Supply Chain Efficiency

BBX reduces complexity in cross-border logistics, lowers inventory carrying costs, and optimizes last-mile distribution, all while keeping your shipments within DHL’s trusted express delivery network.

Bonus: Ship Sustainably

When you add DHL GoGreen Plus, you can reduce the carbon footprint of your BBX shipments by using Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF), cutting greenhouse gas emissions by up to 80% compared to traditional jet fuel.

How BBX Shipping Works

1. Consolidation at Origin

Multiple packages (“baby shipments”) are collected from your location or supplier and combined into one bulk or “mother” shipment. Specialized equipment is used to handle and prepare shipments for loading, ensuring safe and efficient movement onto the transport deck. For consolidated shipments containing bulk liquids, tankers are used to provide specialized handling and safe transport of these cargoes.

2. Single Customs Entry

Instead of processing each package individually, all items move under one AWB and one Importer of Record, simplifying customs clearance.

3. Deconsolidation at Destination

After clearance, DHL Express sorts and delivers the pre-labeled baby shipments to their final recipients. Shipments are carefully lifted onto and off the transport deck, with attention to their width, shape, and form to ensure proper direction and secure stowage, preventing any shift during transit.

4. End-to-End International Shipping

With DHL’s global express infrastructure, BBX shipments typically reach customers 1 business day over regular express shipping transit times. For each shipment, an estimated delivery date is provided, allowing customers to plan accordingly and track their packages with confidence.

How does Breakbulk Express (BBX) compare with Loose Bulk Express (LBX) shipping?

Breakbulk Express (BBX) consolidates multiple packages into one shipment for a single customs clearance, then separates them for delivery, making it ideal for large orders to the same destination country or EU region with lower costs and less paperwork. Loose Bulk Express (LBX) ships packages individually without consolidation, offering simple handling and flexibility for smaller or varied shipments. 

Which bulk shipping option should I use?

If you’re shipping large, heavy, or bulk cargo consolidated into in pallets or large crates, choose Breakbulk Express. For example, heavy or oversized items, such as steel girders or vehicles, often require cranes for loading and unloading due to their weight. If you want to ship smaller, irregularly sized, or varied items shipped as loose individual packages that are consolidated into one shipment electronically, choose Loose Bulk Express (LBX).

How DHL’s BBX Compares to Bulk Carriers

Traditional bulk carriers consolidate items by shipping them in containers. This kind of shipping is typically reserved for transporting large quantities of goods in standardized units on slower-moving container ships. Shippers using bulk carriers for breakbulk shipping are usually transporting grains, liquids, and oil, as this shipping method is particularly suitable for handling such cargo securely and efficiently. 

Barges are often used for oversized or unconventional cargo that cannot be containerized, providing a cost-effective solution for heavy or non-standard shipments. In some cases, the consolidated shipment may be transported on a specialized vessel designed for the efficient handling of breakbulk cargo. Additionally, supplementary equipment and specialized procedures are employed in breakbulk shipping to enhance the safe handling and transportation of heavy or oversized cargo.

Breakbulk Express Shipping (BBX) by DHL Express, on the other hand, is ideal shipping large quantities of items quickly via air express that are not suitable for standard container shipping, offering flexibility for diverse cargo types. 

Advantages and Disadvantages Compared to Other Shipping Methods

The advantages of BBX shipping include lower costs, faster delivery, simplified documentation, and improved supply chain efficiency compared to traditional breakbulk or bulk shipping. BBX solutions are designed to reflect the geographic coverage and global operations of modern businesses, ensuring alignment with your international supply chain needs. BBX also overcomes the disadvantages of other methods, such as the higher resource requirements, longer turnaround times, and port infrastructure limitations often seen with breakbulk shipping. This makes  DHL’s BBX a more efficient and reliable choice for many businesses.

Requirements for Using DHL BBX

To take advantage of Breakbulk Express, businesses should meet the following conditions.

Contractual Agreement  

Request a DHL Express Credit Business Account and contact your account representative for a  with DHL Express that allows you to utilize our Breakbulk solutions.formal agreement with DHL Express that allows you to utilize our Breakbulk solutions.

Ship to a Single Import Gateway  

All parcels in a consolidated shipment must enter the same destination gateway.

Be a Valid Importer of Record  

A designated IOR must be listed for customs compliance.

Meet Minimum Volumes  

Businesses must meet minimum volumes to qualify for BBX shipping.

Provide Accurate Data  

Provide detailed line-item information for each baby shipment (receiver name, description, HTS codes, origin, value, Incoterms, currency consistency).

Provide a DEC Invoice  

A DEC (detailed customs invoice) for the mother shipment is required for clearance.

How to Set Up DHL Breakbulk Express

1. Open a DHL Express Credit Business Account: Contact DHL to discuss your BBX needs and set up your account.

2. Integrate DHL Express API: Connect your e-commerce or ERP platform with MyDHL API for seamless label generation and tracking.

3. Prepare Shipments: Generate a parent AWB for the mother shipment, then create child AWBs for each individual package.

4. Provide Complete Electronic Data: Submit all required customs details in advance to avoid clearance delays.

5. Schedule Pickup: DHL collects and consolidates your shipments for air transport and rapid delivery.

Choose DHL Express for Your Bulk Shipping Needs

As the global leader in logistics and express delivery, DHL Express offers unmatched reliability, speed, and cost efficiency for businesses shipping internationally. Whether you’re an online business, a large-scale distributor, or a manufacturer serving multiple customers abroad, DHL Breakbulk Express enables businesses like yours expand your global reach by streamlining the shipping services you offer to overseas buyers, helping you cut costs, speed up deliveries, and simplify complex customs processes, all under one optimized solution.

With bulk shipping (BBX) by DHL Express, you benefit from:

• A single, streamlined customs process

• Faster delivery times (typically 3–4 days worldwide)

• Reduced costs on duties, storage, and documentation

• Eco-friendly shipping options through GoGreen Plus

• Access to DHL’s global support and tracking systems

Partner with DHL Express to Manage Your Shipping costs

Request a DHL Express Credit Business Account today to set up BBX, save up to 85% on shipping costs, and unlock a smarter, more efficient way to ship globally. Partner with the leading international specialists to secure your position as a long-term brand.