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Industrial Supplies Wholesaling in the US Industry Data and Analysis
A significant trend shaping the industrial supplies wholesaling industry over the past five years has been the robust demand stemming from manufacturing and private nonresidential construction activity. Despite the volatility introduced by shifting trade policies and tariffs, wholesalers have capitalized on a resilient industrial production index and healthy capital investment. This demand has enabled the sector to maintain a steady revenue stream, even as pandemic-era disruptions and inflationary pressures briefly tempered growth. Vertical integration among larger wholesalers and strategic sourcing from global markets helped stabilize profit margin, though overall profit levels in the industry have remained low but steady due to stiff competition and slim value-added processes.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States 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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 42384. This industry wholesales general-use supplies for manufacturing and warehousing industries. Supplies include abrasives, barrels, boxes and crates, industrial containers, industrial diamonds, packaging material, printing ink, power transmission supplies, mechanical rubber goods, ropes, valves and welding supplies. The industry strictly distributes general-use industrial supplies; for example, it provides the automotive sector with valves but not with tires. Related terms covered in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States include original equipment manufacturer (oem), abrasives, wholesale bypass, welding, industrial diamond and bearings.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States include Abrasive and welding supplies, Industrial containers and supplies and Mechanical power transmission supplies.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States include Fastenal Company, Genuine Parts Co and W.W. Grainger, Inc.
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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States.
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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States.
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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States.
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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States. 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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States. 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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States. 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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States. 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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States is $112.0bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 6,517 businesses in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States 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 Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 4.0 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States are Fastenal Company, Genuine Parts Co and W.W. Grainger, Inc.
What does the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States include?
Wholesaling industrial containers and Wholesaling welding supplies are part of the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States is Fastenal Company.
How competitive is the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Industrial Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United States.
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