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Paint Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matthew Pigott Matthew Pigott New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 42495

Revenue

$20.3bn

2024

$20.3bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XX.Xbn

Employees

22,071

Businesses

2,581

Wages

$X.Xbn

Paint Wholesaling in the US industry analysis

Paint wholesalers have been on the decline over the past five years. Firstly, global economic uncertainty led to a decrease in consumer and business spending on nonessential items, including new paint jobs. With individuals and businesses tightening their budgets, there was reduced demand for paint and related products amid the COVID-19 pandemic. More recently, the housing market has witnessed a slowdown, with fewer home sales and new construction projects taking place as interest rates have risen, beginning in 2022, before a cut finally came in 2024. As paint purchases are closely tied to these activities, the decrease in housing market activity directly impacts the need for paint, leading to a decline in sales to paint stores. Industry revenue decreased at an expected CAGR of 1.9% to reach an estimated $19.8 billion in 2024, including am increase of 1.4% in 2024 alone.

Trends and Insights

  • Retail businesses that sell paint, wallpaper, and related products buy from paint wholesalers. Due to economic uncertainty, the industry has seen swings in demand, particularly in the value of construction and industrial production.
  • Demand for goods typically used in home renovation projects is expanding. Additionally, DIY projects grew in popularity during the pandemic, but consumers increasingly bought them at big-box stores, potentially bypassing wholesalers.
  • The geographic spread of wholesalers closely follows that of the Paint Manufacturing industry and wholesale operators' major markets. This is due to operators typically wanting to cut down transportation costs.
  • Paint wholesalers compete with one another on a number of different levels. Wholesale distributors can set themselves apart from their rivals by being effective and offering value-added services like warranties, technical assistance or equipment repair.

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  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.4 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $20.3bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Wholesalers are being cut out of the supply chain

  • Paint wholesalers have been negatively affected by shifting distribution channels. Advancements in technology and improved logistics have made it easier for manufacturers to establish direct relationships with retailers, cutting out the need for intermediary wholesalers. By selling directly, manufacturers can exercise more control over their products, pricing and brand image.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Paint Wholesaling in the US
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

There will be growing paint usage among consumers

  • Given the widespread use of paint-related products, demand for paints and industry services is likely to rise with any significant expansion of the manufacturing, construction or industrial sectors. For instance, industrial paints and coatings are used by makers of industrial machinery in the last stages of the production process, while architectural paint products are used during the construction phase.

Biggest companies in the Paint Wholesaling in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Ppg Industries, Inc.
3,757.2
388.7
10.3
Sherwin Williams Co
2,156.8
260.9
12.1
Rpm International Inc.
1,540.4
138.7
9.0

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Paint Wholesaling in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Architectural coatings , Special-purpose coatings and Industrial, product and OEM coatings . Architectural coatings is the largest segment of the Paint Wholesaling in the US.

Trends and Insights

There is an assorted collection of high-performance paints and related products

  • Special-purpose coatings are typically applied in the field, whereas industrial coatings are typically applied during the manufacturing process, even if they are comparable to goods in the industrial coatings market. Products include maritime paints, spray paint, fluorescent and ultraviolet-sensitive dyes, traffic and highway markings, high-performance maintenance coatings and vehicle repainting and repair coatings.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Operators in this industry wholesale paints, wallpaper, paintbrushes, rollers and other related products. Industry operators purchase paint and other coatings from manufacturers for resale to downstream customers; they do not generally manufacture paint themselves. Retail sales outlets of paint manufacturers are not included in this industry; however, manufacturers’ internal wholesale divisions are included in this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Wholesaling paints and pigmentsWholesaling varnishes and other coatingsWholesaling wallpaperWholesaling brushes, rollers and other painting accessories

Companies

Ppg Industries, Inc.Sherwin Williams CoRpm International Inc.

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

WHOLESALE BYPASSORIGINAL EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER (OEM)COATINGSVOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOCS)INDEPENDENT PAINT DEALERSMANUFACTURERS' SALES BRANCHES AND OFFICES (MSBOS)ARCHITECTURAL PAINTSSPECIAL-PURPOSE COATINGSEMULSION

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42495 - Paint Wholesaling in the US

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

Retail businesses that sell paint, wallpaper, and related products buy from paint wholesalers. Due to economic uncertainty, the industry has seen swings in demand, particular...

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

Demand for goods typically used in home renovation projects is expanding. Additionally, DIY projects grew in popularity during the pandemic, but consumers increasingly bought...

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 geographic spread of wholesalers closely follows that of the Paint Manufacturing industry and wholesale operators' major markets. This is due to operators typically wanti...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

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

Tables

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

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, 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

Paint wholesalers compete with one another on a number of different levels. Wholesale distributors can set themselves apart from their rivals by being effective and offering ...

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

Several significant companies, including Sherwin-Williams, PPG Industries and Benjamin Moore, dominate the market. These businesses control a substantial portion of the marke...

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 Ppg Industries, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Sherwin Williams Co's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Rpm International Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Ppg Industries, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Sherwin Williams Co, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Rpm International Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

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

Analyst insights

Similar to other wholesaling industries that sell chemical products, paint wholesalers are subject to environmental laws and regulations. The laws are less strict than those ...

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

Profit varies widely from business to business depending on the scope of operations, market niche and location. Profit also differs between manufacturers' sales branches and ...

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

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • 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 Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $20.3bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?

There are 2,581 businesses in the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Paint Wholesaling in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Paint Wholesaling market in United States are Ppg Industries, Inc., Sherwin Williams Co and Rpm International Inc.

What does the Paint Wholesaling in the US in United States include?

Wholesaling paints and pigments and Wholesaling varnishes and other coatings are part of the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Paint Wholesaling in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Ppg Industries, Inc..

How competitive is the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Paint Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.

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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.

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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 US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

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.

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