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Hardware Wholesaling in Australia Industry Data and Analysis
The Hardware Wholesaling industry’s performance remains closely tied to construction sector demand, with residential building activity driving notable revenue swings in recent years. Government stimulus and low interest rates drove residential construction and a revenue spike from 2019-20 to 2021-22, but rising interest rates have suppressed new home starts since. Meanwhile, non-residential construction has offered greater revenue stability. Increases in hardware product prices have boosted per-transaction revenue. Leading wholesalers have improved profit margins by investing in automation, supply chain technology and omnichannel distribution, widening the performance gap with less tech-enabled competitors. As wholesale bypass intensifies, value-added services and digital adoption are becoming critical for future competitiveness, leaving smaller traditional operators at increasing risk of margin compression. Large-scale hardware wholesalers, like Bunnings and Mitre 10, have undertaken strategic acquisitions to extend their wholesale operations. Despite these brands' consolidation efforts, market share concentration is low, as most hardware wholesalers are small establishments. Over the five years through 2024-25, industrywide revenue is expected to have risen at an annualised 1.2% to reach $24.8 billion, despite a 3.9% dip anticipated in 2024-25 due to sluggish construction activity.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released May 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia operates under the ANZSIC industry code F3339. Industry firms primarily wholesale a range of hardware products including building supplies, tools, doors and windows. The industry does not include firms that wholesale timber and plumbing products. Related terms covered in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia include wholesale bypass, supply chain , diy, fascia and vertical integration.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia include Hand and power tools, Security and other products and Cement, sand and plaster.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia include Wesfarmers, Metcash and DuluxGroup.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia in 2026?
The market size of the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia is $24.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia in 2025?
There are 4,924 businesses in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia are Wesfarmers, Metcash and DuluxGroup
What does the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia include?
Hand and power tools and Cement, sand and plaster are part of the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia is Wesfarmers.
How competitive is the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Hardware Wholesaling industry in Australia.
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