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Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Vlad Khaustovich Vlad Khaustovich New York, United States Last Updated: September 2024 NAICS OD5518

Revenue

$58.2bn

2024

$58.2bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

74,904

Businesses

3,624

Wages

$X.Xbn

Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry analysis

The material handling equipment industry has closely followed the ups and downs of the broader economy. In 2020, the sector faced a downturn due to pandemic-related disruptions, much like many other industries. However, unlike the sharp decline seen during the 2009 recession, the impact was less severe. The industry experienced a moderate decline, reflecting a more resilient response to economic challenges. Looking forward, between 2021 and 2022, the industry found its footing again as skyrocketing commodity prices fueled revenue growth. Overall, the industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 1.7% to reach $58.2 billion in 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry has generally mirrored economic growth since 2019. Real GDP's expected CAGR of 2.0% from 2019 to 2024 generally aligns with the industry's growth, which reflects their close connection.
  • The industry encompasses various product segments, such as conveying equipment and forklifts. These categories reflect the diverse range of material handling solutions offered to meet different operational needs.
  • Proximity to key markets is a priority. The Great Lakes, Southeast and Southwest regions allow wholesalers to decrease delivery time and improve customer service.
  • Specialized wholesalers are able to compete effeectively with new entrants, while broad-range wholesalers can offset demand drops but risk losing clients to specialists.

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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 1.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $58.2bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

The industry has generally grown in line with the economy

  • Real GDP is expected to grow at a CAGR of 2.0% between 2019 and 2024, which is generally in line with the estimated industry growth.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Material Handling Equipment Distributors 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 industry will benefit from lower interest rates, facilitating capital investments in material handling equipment

  • Lower interest rates reduce the cost of borrowing by decreasing the amount of interest that businesses have to pay on loans. This makes it more affordable for companies to finance capital expenditures, including investments in material handling equipment.

Biggest companies in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($short_0)
2024
Profit ($short_0)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024

There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.

Products & Services Segmentation

Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Conveying equipment, hoists and cranes, Forklifts and Used sales, labor charges and OEM parts. Conveying equipment, hoists and cranes is the largest segment of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US.

Trends and Insights

Used sales, labor charges and OEM parts are key to maintaining and extending equipment lifecycles

  • A significant share of used sales, labor charges and OEM parts indicates a robust aftermarket ecosystem in the material handling sector. It underscores the importance of maintaining and refurbishing equipment to extend its lifecycle, minimize downtime, and reduce capital expenditure. This service-oriented approach is crucial for small and medium-sized enterprises.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of forklift trucks, industrial trucks and tractors, industrial cranes, conveyor systems, hoists, elevators and other materials handling equipment.

What's included in this industry?

Wholesaling material handling machinery and equipment Distributing material handling machinery and equipment

Companies

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

Related Terms

CAPACITY UTILIZATIONHOISTCONVEYOR

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 42383 - Material Handling Equipment Distributors 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 industry has generally mirrored economic growth since 2019. Real GDP's expected CAGR of 2.0% from 2019 to 2024 generally aligns with the industry's growth, which reflects...

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

The industry encompasses various product segments, such as conveying equipment and forklifts. These categories reflect the diverse range of material handling solutions offere...

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

Proximity to key markets is a priority. The Great Lakes, Southeast and Southwest regions allow wholesalers to decrease delivery time and improve customer service.

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

Specialized wholesalers are able to compete effeectively with new entrants, while broad-range wholesalers can offset demand drops but risk losing clients to specialists.

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

No company controls more than 5.0% of the market. High fragmentation is a result of low barriers to entry constantly allowing new entrants.

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

Detailed analysis

    External Environment

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

    Analyst insights

    The National Association of Wholesaler-Distributors (NAW) works to build a community and influence lawmakers. NAW provides research, networking events and pro-business legisl...

    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

    Fluctuations in commodity prices contributed to industry volatility. Commodity prices experienced strong growth between 2021 and 2022, which had a direct impact on end-produc...

    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 Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States in 2024?

    The market size of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States is $58.2bn in 2024.

    How many businesses are there in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in 2024?

    There are 3,624 businesses in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

    Has the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

    The market size of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

    What is the forecast growth of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

    Over the next five years, the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

    What does the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US in United States include?

    Wholesaling material handling machinery and equipment and Distributing material handling machinery and equipment are part of the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry.

    How competitive is the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States?

    The level of competition is high and steady in the Material Handling Equipment Distributors in the US industry in United States.

    Related Industries

    Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

    Competitors

    • There are no industries to display.

    Complementors

    • Forklift & Conveyor Manufacturing in the US
    • Construction & Mining Equipment Wholesaling in the US
    • Industrial Machinery & Equipment Wholesaling in the US
    • Industrial Supplies Wholesaling in the US

    International industries

    • Construction & Forestry Equipment Wholesaling in Canada
    • Farm and Construction Machinery Wholesaling in Australia
    • Agricultural and Construction Machinery Wholesaling in New Zealand
    • Mining, Construction & Civil Engineering Machinery Wholesaling in the UK
    • Safety Equipment & Supplies Wholesaling in the UK

    View all industries in United States

    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 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.

    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.