Wholesale Market Report 2025

The wholesale market size has grown strongly in recent years. It will grow from $53.8 trillion in 2024 to $57.73 trillion in 2025 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.3%. The growth in the historic period can be attributed to economic growth, global trade, supply chain efficiency, government policies, infrastructure development, and globalization.

The wholesale market size is expected to see strong growth in the next few years. It will grow to $73.13 trillion in 2029 at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1%. The growth in the forecast period can be attributed to growing sustainability concerns, demand for health and wellness products, diversification of product offerings, regulatory changes, logistics innovation, and global economic uncertainty. Major trends in the forecast period include digital transformation in wholesale, data analytics and business intelligence, integration of artificial intelligence (AI), cross-border wholesale trade, and blockchain for supply chain transparency.

The wholesale market is anticipated to benefit from the consistent economic growth projected for many developed and developing nations. For example, in January 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a US-based financial organization, reported that global GDP growth was expected to be 2.9% in 2023 and 3.1% in 2024. Additionally, the recovery of commodity prices, following a decline in the previous period, is expected to play a significant role in driving economic growth. The US economy is forecasted to experience stable growth throughout this period. Moreover, emerging markets are expected to continue growing slightly faster than developed markets. This heightened economic growth is likely to stimulate public and private investments, joint ventures, and foreign direct investments in end-user markets, thereby propelling the wholesale market during the forecast period.

The upward trajectory of e-commerce is expected to fuel the growth of the wholesale market in the future. E-commerce, involving the electronic exchange of goods, services, or information between businesses and customers, offers enhanced efficiency, broader market reach, cost savings, and improved customer experiences in the wholesale industry. For example, in August 2023, the United States Census Bureau reported a 7.5% increase (or 1.4%) in e-commerce estimates for the second quarter of 2023, while overall retail sales saw a 0.6% increase (or 0.4%). Hence, the growing prevalence of e-commerce is a key driver for the wholesale market's growth.

The integration of analytics in the wholesale trade market is elevating supply chain efficiencies by proactively anticipating customer future demand. Predictive analytics utilizes historical data to forecast upcoming events. Wholesale trade companies leverage predictive analytics for various applications, including projecting profitability, modeling business scenarios, and enhancing marketing campaigns. As an example, HD Smith, a pharmaceutical wholesale distributor, adopted analytics to streamline operations, manage inventory, and conduct profitability analysis.

Leading companies in the wholesale market are directing their focus towards innovative services, such as digital dash, to deliver reliable solutions to their customers. Digital dash refers to an electronic display panel on a vehicle's dashboard providing real-time information about the vehicle's performance and status. For instance, in March 2023, KPMG International Limited, a Netherlands-based services network and accounting company, introduced a new digital product, Dash, aimed at enhancing retail services. KPMG has employed automation to make Dash accessible to various corporations swiftly, requiring minimal lead time, no development or implementation, and no upfront costs. Dash generates an interactive dashboard of insights by amalgamating company data with AI and three billion external data points, aiding businesses in making informed decisions, predictions, and recommendations.

Major companies operating in the wholesale market include Walmart Inc., Amazon.com Inc., Berkshire Hathaway Inc., AmerisourceBergen Corp., Cardinal Health Inc., The Home Depot Inc., Target Corporation, Itochu Corp, Lowe's Companies Inc., Sinopharm, Sysco Corp., Best Buy Co. Inc., Dollar General Corporation, Tech Data Corp., C&S Wholesale Grocers Inc., Dollar Tree Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Company, Genuine Parts Company, BJ's Wholesale Club Holdings Inc., W.W. Grainger Inc., Tractor Supply Company, LKQ Corporation, United Rentals Inc., Brueder Mannesmann AG, HD Supply Holdings Inc., Fastenal Company, Pool Corporation, Big Lots Inc., The Michaels Companies Inc., Applied Industrial Technologies Inc.

Asia-Pacific was the largest region in the wholesale market in 2024. North America was the second-largest region in the wholesale market. The regions covered in the wholesale market report are Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, Middle East, Africa. The countries covered in the wholesale market report are Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Bangladesh, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Hong Kong, New Zealand, USA, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Peru, France, Germany, UK, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Russia, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Iran, Turkey, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria, South Africa.

The wholesale market includes revenues earned by entities by providing wholesale services by merchant wholesalers, specialty wholesalers, and general wholesalers. The market value includes the value of related goods sold by the service provider or included within the service offering. The wholesale market also includes sales of food, hard or durable goods, soft goods and art goods. Values in this market are ‘factory gate’ values, that is the value of goods sold by the manufacturers or creators of the goods, whether to other entities (including downstream manufacturers, wholesalers, distributors and retailers) or directly to end customers. The value of goods in this market includes related services sold by the creators of the goods.

Wholesale involves the bulk sale of goods to distributors who then either sell them to end-users or distribute them further. In wholesale trade, the process includes the acquisition, storage, and sale of merchandise to retailers or other wholesalers, along with related services such as bulk breaking.

The primary categories of wholesalers are non-durable goods merchant wholesalers, wholesale electronic markets and agents, and brokers, as well as durable goods merchant wholesalers. Non-durable goods wholesalers specialize in products that require frequent replenishment, such as food items and petrol. Wholesale/distribution chains and independent wholesalers operate under various ownership forms, offering premium, mid-range, and economy price options.

The wholesale market research report is one of a series of new reports that provides wholesale market statistics, including wholesale industry global market size, regional shares, competitors with a wholesale market share, detailed wholesale market segments, market trends and opportunities, and any further data you may need to thrive in the wholesale industry. This wholesale market research report delivers a complete perspective of everything you need, with an in-depth analysis of the current and future scenario of the industry.

The market value is defined as the revenues that enterprises gain from the sale of goods and/or services within the specified market and geography through sales, grants, or donations in terms of the currency (in USD, unless otherwise specified).

The revenues for a specified geography are consumption values that are revenues generated by organizations in the specified geography within the market, irrespective of where they are produced. It does not include revenues from resales along the supply chain, either further along the supply chain or as part of other products.

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