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Metal Wholesaling in Canada Industry Data and Analysis
Despite considerable volatility, Canadian metal wholesalers have seen rising demand from manufacturers of machinery, fabricated metal, and transportation equipment. Throughout the period, performance has fluctuated in response to changes in steel and iron prices. Commodity prices surged upward following the pandemic as global supply chains recovered unevenly and construction and manufacturing expanded. Higher input costs led wholesalers to raise selling prices across many markets, pressuring buyers to adjust their sourcing strategies due to greater pricing uncertainty. However, prices have cooled steadily since, as weaker global use and expanding capacity have pulled markets lower. The continued oversupply through 2025 has kept prices subdued, even as broader commodity markets have stabilized. Reflecting this volatility, metal wholesaling revenue is forecast to expand at a CAGR of 4.7% to $30.0 billion from 2020 to 2025.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released January 2026.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada operates under the NAICS industry code 41621CA. Metal wholesalers in Canada distribute primary metals and metal products to end markets. Most products distributed are ferrous, although the industry also distributes aluminum and other nonferrous metals. Wholesalers may also perform functions such as sawing and cleaning on a custom basis and as part of the distribution service. The distribution of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum is excluded from this industry’s operations. Related terms covered in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada include nonferrous metal, blanking, pickling and rolling stock.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada include Iron and steel, Aluminum and Other nonferrous metals and products.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada include Russel and Reliance.
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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada.
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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada.
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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada.
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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada. 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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada. 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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada. 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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada. 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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada in 2026?
The market size of the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada is $27.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada in 2026?
There are 1,047 businesses in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2021 and 2026.
How may import tariffs affect the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada?
The Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada 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 Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada?
The Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 4.7 % between 2021 and 2026.
What is the forecast growth of the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada are Russel and Reliance
What does the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada include?
Wholesaling steel products and Wholesaling stainless steel and alloys are part of the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada is Russel.
How competitive is the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Metal Wholesaling industry in Canada.
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