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Medical Supplies Wholesaling in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Tina Fine Tina Fine New York, United States Last Updated: August 2024 NAICS 41793aCA

Revenue

$XX.Xbn

2024

$33.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

XX,XXX

Businesses

X,XXX

Wages

$XX.Xbn

Medical Supplies Wholesaling in Canada industry analysis

Medical supply wholesalers benefit from downstream markets' robust demand for innovative medical devices and products. Many healthcare providers (physicians, hospitals and other institutions) have purchased these innovative products from industry wholesalers to attract patients. Substituting these new and more expensive products, rising prices for existing products and more per-patient use of medical supplies have contributed to solid wholesaler revenue growth. And since most wholesalers specialize in specific product markets, they can better exploit product introductions. Despite the pandemic's impact on revenue volatility from supply chain interruption, revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.9% to $33.9 through 2024, with revenue increasing 2.5% in 2024 alone and profit holding at 7.9%.

Trends and Insights

  • The pandemic briefly undermined revenue. In 2020, revenue across the industry declined as downstream demand contracted, but the industry bounced back quickly.
  • Diagnostic apparatuses are the largest product segment. Demand for these products comes from a wide range of healthcare establishments.
  • Ontario is home to the largest number of wholesalers. Medical supplies wholesalers are driven to the region by its large population share.
  • Major wholesalers are the most competitive. Economies of scale, vast distribution networks and well-established supplier relationships create quick turnaround times and cost competitiveness sought by healthcare organizations.

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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 grown at a CAGR of XX.X% over the past five years, to reach an estimated $XX.Xbn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Demographic shifts have boosted wholesalers' business

  • The rising number of older adults in Canada has led to an overall increase in illnesses, boosting demand for medical services and escalating the requirement for medical instruments and supplies at doctors' clinics and hospitals. These facilities turn to wholesalers for their supplies, boosting revenue.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Medical Supplies Wholesaling in Canada
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

Revenue will grow along with increased demand for medical products

  • Changing demographics of the Canadian population and the rapid pace of technological innovation favour the entire healthcare sector. The number of Canadians aged 65 and older will continue to grow. During the same period, the overall Canadian population is expected to increase, indicating that the average age of the population is projected to rise as well.

Biggest companies in the Medical Supplies Wholesaling in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Cardinal Health Canada Inc.
232.6
0.9
0.4
Henry Schein
175.9
11.4
6.5
The Stevens Company Limited
82.1
6.5
7.9

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

Products & Services Segmentation

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

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Consumables, Diagnostic apparatuses and Patient aids. Consumables is the largest segment of the Medical Supplies Wholesaling in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Patient aids, orthopedic products, and other medical equipment bring in half of wholesalers' revenue

  • Patient aids include hearing aids, pacemakers and equipment dispensed to improve patients' mobility. The orthopedic product segment includes hip, knee and shoulder replacement systems, bone substitute products and soft tissue repair.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada wholesales medical and surgical equipment from distribution centres. Customers include medical and dental practitioners, veterinarian facilities, clinics and hospitals.

What's included in this industry?

Diagnostic apparatusesConsumablesPatient aidsOrthopedic products Dental productsOther medical equipment

Companies

Cardinal Health Canada Inc.Henry ScheinThe Stevens Company Limited

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

Related Terms

AUTOMATIONINVENTORY MANAGEMENTWHOLESALE BYPASSRADIO-FREQUENCY IDENTIFICATION (RFID)ELECTRONIC DATA INTERCHANGE (EDI)GROUP PURCHASING ORGANIZATION (GPO)

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 417930 - Medical 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

The pandemic briefly undermined revenue. In 2020, revenue across the industry declined as downstream demand contracted, but the industry bounced back quickly.

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

Diagnostic apparatuses are the largest product segment. Demand for these products comes from a wide range of healthcare establishments.

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

Ontario is home to the largest number of wholesalers. Medical supplies wholesalers are driven to the region by its large population share.

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 2024

Tables

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

Major wholesalers are the most competitive. Economies of scale, vast distribution networks and well-established supplier relationships create quick turnaround times and cost ...

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

Economies of scale, vast distribution networks and well-established supplier relationships allow the leading wholesalers to gain a foothold. Leading wholesalers are able to b...

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 Cardinal Health Canada Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Henry Schein's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of The Stevens Company Limited'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 Cardinal Health Canada Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Henry Schein, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for The Stevens Company Limited, 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

Government healthcare drives demand. Government healthcare funding subsidizes physicians and dentists that purchase industry products.

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 margins have been limited by commodity prices. Volatility makes it difficult for wholesalers to accurately reflect purchase costs in selling prices.

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 (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (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 Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada is $XX.Xbn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Medical Supplies Wholesaling in Canada industry in 2024?

There are $XX.Xbn businesses in the Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of XX.X% between 2019 and 2024.

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

The market size of the Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada has been stable at a CAGR of XX.X% between 2019 and 2024.

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

Over the next five years, the Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada is expected to remain static.

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

The biggest companies operating in the Medical Supplies Wholesaling market in Canada are Cardinal Health Canada Inc., Henry Schein and The Stevens Company Limited

What does the Medical Supplies Wholesaling in Canada include?

Diagnostic apparatuses and Consumables are part of the Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry.

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

The company holding the most market share in Canada is Cardinal Health Canada Inc..

How competitive is the Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Medical Supplies Wholesaling industry in Canada.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • E-Commerce & Online Auctions in Canada

Complementors

  • Medical Device Manufacturing in Canada
  • Medical Instrument & Supply Manufacturing in Canada
  • Laboratory Supply Wholesaling in Canada
  • Pharmaceuticals & Pharmacy Supplies Wholesaling in Canada

International industries

  • Medical Supplies Wholesaling in the US
  • Dental Equipment Dealers in the US
  • Medical and Scientific Equipment Wholesaling in Australia
  • Professional and Scientific Goods Wholesaling in New Zealand

View all industries in Canada

Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

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.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.