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Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Jack Dixon Jack Dixon London, United Kingdom Last Updated: July 2024 SIC G46.630

Revenue

£7.0bn

2024-25

£7.0bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

£XXX.Xm

Employees

9,973

Businesses

807

Wages

£XXX.Xm

Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry analysis

Mining, construction and civil engineering machinery sales depend on business sentiment, public infrastructure investment and construction output. The COVID-19 outbreak effectively halted construction, mining and engineering projects overnight. Over 2020, according to the ONS, construction and manufacturing output fell by 12.5% and 9.9%, while the North Sea Transition Authority reported that oil and gas companies cut expenditure by 23%, all of which were the driving force behind revenue tanking in 2020-21. However, revenue rebounded over 2021 and 2022, supported by a booming construction market and a resurgence in the UK oil and gas sector. Over the five years through 2024-25, revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.96.7% to £7 billion, withstanding a 1.9% tumble in revenue in 2024-25.
Government initiatives to stimulate the housing market, like the UK Help to Buy and Home Building Fund scheme, have boosted sales to residential construction contractors. The government has also invested widely in infrastructure, with HS2 and the National Infrastructure and Construction Pipeline representing two of the most significant projects in UK history. These projects supported extensive demand for drilling machinery, excavators, bulldozers and loaders. On top of this, the government issuing new North Sea oil and gas exploration licenses has supported sales of oil drilling equipment. However, downstream coal mining activity has dried up following the government's desire to phase out the highly polluting energy source.
Infrastructure projects like HS2 will provide a steady revenue stream for machinery wholesalers, expected to be completed between 2029 and 2033. The North Sea Transition Authority has released over 100 new exploration licences for oil and gas companies, supporting investment in exploration machinery. Wholesalers' product mix will shift towards high-margin battery-powered electric machinery as the government seeks to hit its net zero emissions target, supporting profitability. However, the lingering threat of wholesale bypass will weigh on revenue growth as vertically integrated manufacturers take customers away from the industry. Over the five years through 2029-30, machinery sales are forecast to inch upward at a compound annual rate of 0.3% to reach £7.1 billion.

Trends and Insights

  • Government initiatives and green energy boost the machinery industry. Incentives to stimulate the housing market and extensive investment in infrastructure projects have boosted construction machinery sales in place of coal extraction, impacting demand for related machinery.
  • Technological advancements are bolstering heavy equipment sales. Improved GPS, telematics and ergonomics in excavators, trenchers and shovels are boosting sales.
  • The South East is a construction hotspot. With a high population density driving residential and civil construction projects, these areas attract machinery wholesalers thanks to their proximity to trading partners.
  • Differentiation is key to machinery wholesalers' success. By providing excellent customer service, offering diverse or specialised product ranges, offering value-added options like financing and maintenance, or incorporating online ordering systems, wholesalers can distinguish themselves in the market.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated £7.0bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Machinery sales slumped amid the COVID-19 outbreak

  • The COVID-19 outbreak sharply reduced wholesalers' sales and profitability. Strict social distancing measures effectively halted all non-essential construction, mining and engineering projects overnight, weighing on machinery sales across all downstream markets.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

HS2 will provide a substantial revenue stream

  • HS2 will link London, Birmingham and Manchester with the Scottish cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh. As the largest infrastructure project in Europe, HS2 will require extensive drilling, excavating, engineering and construction equipment.

Biggest companies in the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK

Company
Market Share (%)
2025
Revenue (£m)
2025
Finning (UK) Ltd
783.6
Komatsu Mining Corporation
253.9
JCB Sales Ltd
92.5

To view the market share and analysis for all 4 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Drilling rigs and equipment, Underground mining equipment and Mineral processing equipment. Drilling rigs and equipment is the largest segment of the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK.

Trends and Insights

Technological developments in excavators, trenchers and shovels boost sales

  • Excavators are used across the construction and mining sectors for digging and demolition work. Mini-excavator sales (smaller and more compact) are increasingly used for smaller projects like landscaping and residential construction. GPS and telematics are also installed in excavators, boosting efficiency and productivity.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry distribute a range of machinery used in the construction, mining and oil and gas sectors. Machiney distributed by this industry includes drilling rigs and equipment, excavators, trenches, shovels, bulldozers, cranes and forklifts.

What's included in this industry?

Lifting equipmentExcavators, trenchers and shovelsDrilling rigs and equipmentLoadersUnderground mining equipmentMineral processing equipment

Companies

Finning (UK) LtdKomatsu Mining CorporationJCB Sales Ltd

Purchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

CONTINUOUS MINERADITWHOLESALE BYPASS

Industry Code

SIC 2007

SIC 46.63 - Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

Government initiatives and green energy boost the machinery industry. Incentives to stimulate the housing market and extensive investment in infrastructure projects have boos...

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Technological advancements are bolstering heavy equipment sales. Improved GPS, telematics and ergonomics in excavators, trenchers and shovels are boosting sales.

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

The South East is a construction hotspot. With a high population density driving residential and civil construction projects, these areas attract machinery wholesalers thanks...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each region
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each region in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each region in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Differentiation is key to machinery wholesalers' success. By providing excellent customer service, offering diverse or specialised product ranges, offering value-added option...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Finning's size stems from its market monopoly. As the exclusive dealer for Caterpillar products in the UK and Ireland, the company commands a significant segment of the heavy...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Finning (UK) Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Komatsu Mining Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of JCB Sales Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Finning (UK) Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Komatsu Mining Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for JCB Sales Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Electronic waste disposal is a crucial regulation. The WEEE regulations hold machinery wholesalers responsible for the environmentally safe disposal of any electronic or elec...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

COVID-19 slashed the profits of mining, construction and engineering machine wholesalers. This downturn resulted from social distancing closures and a global semiconductor sh...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2018-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2018-2022)
  • Assets (2018-2022)
  • Liabilities (2018-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom in 2024?

The market size of the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is £7.0bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in 2024?

There are 807 businesses in the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 1.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK market in United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling market in United Kingdom are Finning (UK) Ltd, Komatsu Mining Corporation and JCB Sales Ltd

What does the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK in United Kingdom include?

Lifting equipment and Excavators, trenchers and shovels are part of the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK in United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in United Kingdom is Finning (UK) Ltd.

How competitive is the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK industry in United Kingdom.

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Competitors

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Methodology

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IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the UK include:

  • Office for National Statistics
  • Office for Budget Responsibility
  • Bank of England

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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