What types of cargo are commonly carried on Mississippi River barges?

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Barges on the Mississippi River are typically designed for specific types of cargo, categorized primarily as either dry or liquid.

Leading bulk cargoes transported along the waterway include:

Petroleum and derivative products1
Coal and coke1
Iron and steel1
Chemicals1
Sand and gravel1
Crushed rock1
Sulfur1

Additionally, since approximately 1960, the river has been used to transport specialized, bulky items such as booster rockets for space research, which are often too large for other modes of transportation. Modern towboats typically push a rigid platform of these barges, with dry cargo barges generally having a capacity of about 1,500 tons and liquid cargo barges having a capacity of approximately 2,500 tons.1