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Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Nina Koefler Nina Koefler Frankfurt, Germany Last Updated: May 2024 WZ G46.72aDE

Revenue

€50.1bn

2024

€50.1bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

€XXX.Xm

Employees

44,453

Businesses

1,566

Wages

€X.Xbn

Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany industry analysis

The market situation in the industry has presented a number of challenges for industry players over the past five years. In addition to a volatile steel price, trade tensions between the USA, China and the European Union characterised the industry's development. The coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine also had a negative impact on the industry. The industry's turnover has been correspondingly weak over the past five years. They fell by an average of 1.4% per year during this period. In the current year, industry turnover is expected to total 50.1 billion euros.The trade dispute between the USA, China and the European Union has increasingly escalated over the past five years and had a noticeably negative impact on the industry's development. In particular, it was the USA that made exports to the USA less attractive or more expensive for German trading companies by imposing import tariffs of 25% on European steel and aluminium. The automotive industry showed a volatile development. The construction industry, which showed increased demand for steel as a result of the construction boom, proved to be a constant growth driver for the sector at the beginning of the last five-year period, but slumped sharply from the second half of the last five-year period onwards. In the current year, industry players are likely to benefit from rising steel prices, which are expected to generate slight sales growth of 0.8%.In the next five years, turnover in the sector is expected to increase by an average of 1% per year and reach 52.7 billion euros in 2029. The business situation is expected to improve steadily over the next few years. Demand for steel in China is likely to increase again due to strong growth in the construction industry, and the automotive industry should also have a high demand for industry products again due to strong demand for motor vehicles.

Trends and Insights

  • In contrast to many other sectors of the economy, the construction industry, an important market, was only slightly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This is because negative effects in the construction industry only materialise after a delay.
  • Surface-finished sheet metal is primarily in demand from the automotive industry. The automotive industry accounts for almost half of the turnover generated by this product segment.
  • Many steel producers have settled in the Ruhr region in the past due to the abundance of raw materials in the area. The industry players have accordingly settled close to the steel producers.
  • Competition among industry players is very strong. Price is the main criterion with which companies can differentiate themselves from the competition.

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  • 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 €50.1bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Vertical integration offers industry players advantages

  • Although the industry is predominantly made up of medium-sized companies, larger players dominate the sector. Large steel producers such as Thyssenkrupp or Salzgitter have often vertically integrated themselves along their value chain and founded trading companies that carry out sales activities for them.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany
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

Market conditions are likely to improve in the coming years

  • Many important downstream industries such as the automotive industry will significantly increase their demand for industry products over the next five years.

Biggest companies in the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue (€m)
2024
Thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbH
5,737.6
Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH
2,729.0
Carl Spaeter GmbH
1,367.2

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

Products & Services Segmentation

Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Surface-finished sheet metal, Reinforcing steel and Cold rolled sheets. Surface-finished sheet metal is the largest segment of the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany.

Trends and Insights

Surface-finished sheet metal is particularly in demand from the automotive industry

  • Surface-finished sheets are usually thin sheets that are less than three millimetres thick. As steel is susceptible to corrosion, other metals such as zinc, tin, chrome and nickel are applied to the steel sheets as corrosion protection, but also for aesthetic reasons. Commonly used coating processes include electrolytic coating and hot-dip galvanising.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The industry comprises wholesale trade in iron ore, pig iron, ferroalloys and semi-finished products made of iron and steel. The industry definition does not include trade in non-ferrous metals such as aluminium. Furthermore, the wholesale trade in scrap metal is not included in the industry.

What's included in this industry?

Surface-finished sheet metalReinforcing steelCold rolled sheetsBand platesMoulded steels and wide flange beamsSteel barsQuarto plates

Companies

Thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbHSalzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbHCarl Spaeter GmbH

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

Related Terms

INCOTERMSJUST-IN-TIMECNC MACHINE

Industry Code

WZ 2008

WZ 46.72.1 - Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany

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

In contrast to many other sectors of the economy, the construction industry, an important market, was only slightly affected by the coronavirus pandemic. This is because nega...

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

Surface-finished sheet metal is primarily in demand from the automotive industry. The automotive industry accounts for almost half of the turnover generated by this product s...

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

Many steel producers have settled in the Ruhr region in the past due to the abundance of raw materials in the area. The industry players have accordingly settled close to the...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

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

Tables

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

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across Europe, 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

Competition among industry players is very strong. Price is the main criterion with which companies can differentiate themselves from the competition.

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

Thysenkrupp Materials Services GmbH distributes the parent company's products worldwide. In addition to trading in steel, the company also offers industrial services for busi...

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 Thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Carl Spaeter GmbH'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 Thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Carl Spaeter GmbH, 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

A significant proportion of the industry's products are sold to the building construction sector. This makes their sales development an important indicator for the developmen...

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

Through additional services, the players try to increase their profit margins. These include, for example, customising the goods on offer to meet specific customer requiremen...

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

  • 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 Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2024?

The market size of the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany is €50.1bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany industry in 2024?

There are 1,566 businesses in the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 1.4 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling market in Germany?

The biggest companies operating in the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling market in Germany are Thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbH, Salzgitter Mannesmann Handel GmbH and Carl Spaeter GmbH

What does the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany include?

Surface-finished sheet metal and Reinforcing steel are part of the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling in Germany?

The company holding the most market share in Germany is Thyssenkrupp Materials Services GmbH.

How competitive is the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Iron & Steel Ore & Semi-Finished Product Wholesaling industry in Germany.

Related Industries

Widen your competitive advantage with related industries

Competitors

  • Aluminium Production in Germany
  • Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in Germany

Complementors

  • There are no industries to display.

International industries

  • Metal Wholesaling in the US
  • Metal Wholesaling in Canada
  • Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in Australia
  • Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand
  • Metal & Metal Ore Wholesaling in the UK

View all industries in Germany

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 Germany include:

  • German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
  • European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
  • United Nations Comtrade

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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