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Chemical Product Wholesaling in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
The UK chemical product wholesaling industry is facing ongoing challenges amid volatile oil prices, falling downstream demand, shifting trade dynamics and accelerating technological change. The most prominent trend is the relentless pressure on profit margins, as volatile oil prices drive up feedstock costs and make it tough for wholesalers to pass higher expenses along the supply chain. Industry pressures are compounded by a hike in direct imports from low-cost producers, such as China, where cheaper energy and labour undercut UK-based firms, increasing competition and bypassing wholesalers. The sector is also responding to a transformation in distribution channels, with digital B2B marketplaces and online trading platforms reshaping how chemicals are sourced and distributed, forcing traditional wholesalers to up their game in customer service and logistics to retain business. Many are expanding value-added services and improving just-in-time delivery systems to differentiate themselves. Despite these efforts, profit levels remain below the broader wholesale sector, with operating margins persistently tight due to the ongoing struggle to recover input price hikes.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released November 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code G46.750. Companies in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry are involved in the wholesale of various industrial chemicals and gases. They also wholesale fertilisers, agrochemical products, glues and essential oils. The industry does not include the activities of commission agents, commodity brokers and other types of wholesalers acting on behalf of others. Related terms covered in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include fertiliser, agrochemical and wholesale bypass.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include Industrial gases, Fertilisers and agrochemicals and Polymers and essential oils.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include Brenntag AG, IMCD UK Ltd and HELM Great Britain Ltd.
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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. 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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. 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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. 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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. 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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is £12.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 1,570 businesses in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom 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 Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom are Brenntag AG, IMCD UK Ltd and HELM Great Britain Ltd
What does the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include?
Polymers and essential oils and Fertilisers and agrochemicals are part of the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is Brenntag AG.
How competitive is the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and increasing in the Chemical Product Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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