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Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Matthew Pigott Matthew Pigott New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 42372

Revenue

$92.4bn

2024

$92.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

88,780

Businesses

4,124

Wages

$X.Xbn

Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry analysis

The industry distributes plumbing fixtures, hydronic equipment and other heating and plumbing supplies from manufacturers to professional contractors and other downstream markets. These products are used in the construction, repair and remodeling of residential and nonresidential buildings. This industry relies on downstream demand for construction and renovation work, which have stayed relatively stable, as nonresidential and residential construction trends have largely been opposites over the last five years, and wholesalers in the industry are fairly equally exposed to both markets. Revenue is expected to rise at a CAGR of 0.9% to $96.5 billion in 2024, when revenue is set to expand by 1.1% amid tepid home improvement spending growth.

Trends and Insights

  • The Plumbing and Heating Supplies Wholesaling industry has experienced growth over the past five years. Residential and nonresidential construction markets have seen roughly countervailing trends, resulting in mild growth.
  • Wholesalers in the industry sell a wide range of building and construction-related goods. The range from porcelain sinks and toilets to furnaces, boilers, and water heaters.
  • Population distribution, overall economic activity, building investment and incomes are key factors that affect the location of industry operators. The Southeast, West and Mid-Atlantic are the three of the largest regions by industry establishment.
  • Wholesale bypass has become an increasing threat because of e-commerce. This has caused price-based competition to grow in importance as a factor of industry performance.

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  • 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 declined at a CAGR of 0.0 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $92.4bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Construction markets have fluctuated

  • Early in the current five-year period, the COVID-19 pandemic had mixed effects on construction markets downstream of industry wholesalers. Low interest rates and people spending more time at home led to a surge in private spending on home improvements, driving for supplies from residential markets in 2020 and 2021. At the same time, a general macroeconomic slowdown drove down demand for plumbing and heating supplies from nonresidential markets.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Plumbing & Heating Supplies 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

The recovery of construction markets will support growth

  • Over the next five years, the industry will be supported by growth in both the residential and non-residential construction markets. With interest rates falling and with confidence returning to real estate markets, construction activities will increase, driving demand for plumbing and heating supplies.

Biggest companies in the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Ferguson Plc
28,195.0
2,523.1
8.9

To view the market share and analysis for all 1 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Pipes, fittings and valves, Other plumbing supplies and Plumbing fixtures. Pipes, fittings and valves is the largest segment of the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US.

Trends and Insights

The plumbing supplies segment has a lot of variety

  • This section includes water treatment equipment, filtration equipment and well and sump pumps. Toilets, urinals, bidets, sinks, bathtubs and showers are examples of plumbing fixtures.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

Companies in this industry wholesale plumbing supplies (e.g. fixtures and valves), heating equipment (e.g. hot water radiators) and other plumbing and hydronic equipment. Industry operators are not involved in wholesaling gas clothes dryers, electric water heaters, electric stoves, refrigerators or air conditioners. The sales and distribution branches of manufacturers are included in this industry.

What's included in this industry?

Pipes, fittings and valvesPlumbing servicesPlumbing fixturesSump pumps and water treatment equipmentBoilers, radiators and related productsHVAC equipmentFurnances and water heaters

Companies

Ferguson Plc

Purchase this report to view all 1 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

WATERWORKSHEATING, VENTILATION AND AIR-CONDITIONING (HVAC)HYDRONIC HEATINGRADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)WHOLESALE BYPASS

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42372 - Plumbing & Heating Supplies 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

The Plumbing and Heating Supplies Wholesaling industry has experienced growth over the past five years. Residential and nonresidential construction markets have seen roughly ...

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

Wholesalers in the industry sell a wide range of building and construction-related goods. The range from porcelain sinks and toilets to furnaces, boilers, and water heaters.

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

Population distribution, overall economic activity, building investment and incomes are key factors that affect the location of industry operators. The Southeast, West and Mi...

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

Wholesale bypass has become an increasing threat because of e-commerce. This has caused price-based competition to grow in importance as a factor of industry performance.

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

The industry is predominately made up of smaller businesses that target a certain market or geographic region. This is despite the fact that a small number of distributors ha...

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 Ferguson Plc's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Ferguson Plc, 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

Industry participants receive help from various private trade organizations. A major trade association is the American Supply Association, which represents manufacturers and ...

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 depending on the size, scope and location of the wholesaler. Larger wholesalers can achieve higher profit by leveraging economies of scale.

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 Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $92.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?

There are 4,124 businesses in the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US market in United States?

The biggest company operating in the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling market in United States is Ferguson Plc

What does the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US in United States include?

Pipes, fittings and valves and Plumbing services are part of the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Ferguson Plc.

How competitive is the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Plumbing & Heating Supplies Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

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 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.

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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