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Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada - Market Research Report (2013-2028)

Matty O'Malley Matty O'Malley New York, United States Last Updated: August 2023 NAICS 41839CA

Revenue

$48.4bn

2023

$48.4bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

13,636

Businesses

553

Wages

$XXX.Xm

Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada industry analysis

Over the five years to 2023, farm supplies wholesalers enjoyed considerable growth. Even amid the outbreak of COVID-19, when fertilizer prices fell, low-interest rates incentivized downstream farmers to invest in land and equipment, spurring the need for more fertilizers and pesticides. Strong demand for Canadian agricultural exports bolstered growth for wholesalers. Industry-wide revenue has grown at a CAGR of 8.5% to $48.4 billion over the five years to 2023, including an estimated 19.6% jump in 2023 alone, when profit is expected to remain stable at 3.0%.Much of the growth wholesalers enjoyed over the current period was price-based. Truck and rail strikes in Canada led to climbing potash prices as the country is a major fertilizer producer. Sanctions placed on Russia following the country's invasion of Ukraine considerably affected the price of fertilizers since the country is a significant producer of fertilizer and key inputs like natural gas.Over the five years to 2028, wholesalers are expected to continue to enjoy growth but at a slower rate than in the current period. While fertilizer prices will remain high because of lingering supply chain woes induced by COVID-19 and uncertainty surrounding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, price increases will be much less. As more wholesalers begin operating, price-based competition will ramp up and hinder profit growth over the outlook period. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 0.5% to $49.7 billion over the five years to 2028.

Trends and Insights

  • Revenue has surged alongside fertilizer prices. Much of the growth farm supplies wholesalers enjoyed over the current period was price-based because of supply chain woes induced by COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
  • Nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilizers prices have surged. Supply chain woes related to the outbreak of COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have pushed up the price of fertilizers.
  • Wheat farmers drive wholesalers to Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan is known as Canada’s breadbasket and wholesalers establish there to reduce transportation costs with downstream customers.
  • Wholesalers primarily compete based on price. Since the products wholesalers provide are mainly undifferentiated, there is stiff price-based competition among them.

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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2013-2028)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 8.5 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $48.4bn in 2023.

Trends and Insights

COVID-19's impact

  • Despite the outbreak of COVID-19 decreasing the price of key inputs for fertilizers, such as natural gas, wholesalers enjoyed growth in 2020.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada
Revenue (2013-2028)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

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

Trends and Insights

Fertilizer prices to remain high

  • While fertilizer prices will continue to climb over the outlook period, growth will not be as massive as compared to the current period, which will slow revenue considerably.

Biggest companies in the Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2023
Revenue ($m)
2023
Profit ($m)
2023
Profit Margin (%)
2023
Nutrien
3,557.8
665.9
18.7
Sollio
1,214.2
N/A
N/A
Syngenta AG
667.8
N/A
N/A

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

Products & Services Segmentation

Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Nitrogen fertilizers, Potash fertilizers and Phosphate fertilizers. Nitrogen fertilizers is the largest segment of the Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has led to spiking nitrogen fertilizer prices

  • Ammonia is a critical input in nitrogen fertilizers, which are sometimes injected directly into the ground.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada is primarily engaged in wholesaling agricultural chemicals, such as fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and general farm supplies to farmers. Wholesalers may have an exclusive distributorship to sell a particular brand within a specified territory, but generally, they sell products in competition with other wholesalers.

What's included in this industry?

Chemical fertilizer distribution Fumigant distributionFungicide distributionHerbicide distributionInsecticide distributionFarm supplies distribution

Companies

NutrienSollioSyngenta AG

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

Related Terms

COOPERATIVEGENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM)FERTILIZERPLANT BULBPESTICIDERADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)WHOLESALE BYPASS

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 418390 - Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada

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

Revenue has surged alongside fertilizer prices. Much of the growth farm supplies wholesalers enjoyed over the current period was price-based because of supply chain woes indu...

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 (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Employees, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Businesses, including historical (2013-2022) and forecast (2023-2028)
  • Profit, including historical (2013-2023)
  • 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

Nitrogen, potash and phosphate fertilizers prices have surged. Supply chain woes related to the outbreak of COVID-19 and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have pushed up the price...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2023
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2023
  • Major market segmentation in 2023

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

Wheat farmers drive wholesalers to Saskatchewan. Saskatchewan is known as Canada’s breadbasket and wholesalers establish there to reduce transportation costs with downstream ...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2023

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2023
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2023
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2023

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

Wholesalers primarily compete based on price. Since the products wholesalers provide are mainly undifferentiated, there is stiff price-based competition among them.

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 2018-2023
  • 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

Acquisition activity is on the rise. Nutrien recently acquired Casa do Adubo, expanding the company’s reach and boosting its operations.

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2019 through 2023
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2023
  • Overview of Nutrien's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Sollio's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of Syngenta AG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2017 through 2023
  • Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Nutrien, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Sollio, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Syngenta AG, 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

Farm supplies wholesalers enjoy few regulations. Wholesalers must abide by the Competition Act of 1889 and Canada's Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) regulations.

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 (2013-2028) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2013-2028) 

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 has remained stable. Wholesalers’ ability to pass increased purchase costs onto consumers has enabled them to avoid massive drops in profit.

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 2023
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2023
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Coverage Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2016-2021)
  • Operating Ratios (2016-2021)
  • Assets (2016-2021)
  • Liabilities (2016-2021)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Employee (2013-2028)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Establishment (2013-2028)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • Average Wage (2013-2028)
  • Wages/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2013-2028)
  • IVA/Revenue (2013-2028)
  • Imports/Demand (2013-2028)
  • Exports/Revenue (2013-2028)

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 (2013-2028)
  • IVA (2013-2028)
  • Establishments (2013-2028)
  • Enterprises (2013-2028)
  • Employment (2013-2028)
  • Exports (2013-2028)
  • Imports (2013-2028)
  • Wages (2013-2028)

Top Questions Answered

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

What is the market size of the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada is $48.4bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada industry in 2023?

There are 553 businesses in the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 2.3 % between 2018 and 2023.

Has the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 8.5 % between 2018 and 2023.

What is the forecast growth of the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Farm Supplies Wholesaling market in Canada?

The biggest companies operating in the Farm Supplies Wholesaling market in Canada are Nutrien, Sollio and Syngenta AG

What does the Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada include?

Chemical fertilizer distribution and Fumigant distribution are part of the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Farm Supplies Wholesaling in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Nutrien.

How competitive is the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Farm Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada.

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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 Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

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.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

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