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Construction Supplies Wholesaling in the UK Industry Data and Analysis
Construction supplies wholesalers have grown steadily as shifts in construction activity reshaped product demand, trading conditions and operating models. ONS data shows that total construction output rose 0.4% in 2024, but repair and maintenance work increased 8.5% while new building fell 5.3%. This matters because wholesalers depend on consistent high-frequency trade purchases to maintain cash flow and manage inventory cycles. As a result, materials tied to repair work like plasterboard, insulation and electrical components have moved more quickly through branches, while slower sales of concrete and steel for major projects have tied up more capital in slow-moving stock. The ONS reported that material price inflation has eased, with the All Work material price index 0.9% lower in January 2025 than a year earlier, improving pricing stability after earlier volatility. Energy and financing costs remain above pre-pandemic norms, limiting wholesalers’ ability to rebuild profitability despite steadier input prices. Over the five years through 2025-26, industry revenue is estimated to rise at a compound annual rate of 3.3% to reach £42.9 billion, including 3.3% growth in 2025-26. Profit margins remain subdued because the industry relies heavily on working capital, vehicle fleets and large warehouses that are sensitive to interest rates and energy trends.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released December 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code G46.730. Businesses in this industry carry out distribution operations to retailers or other users of building and construction materials, except steel and other metals. The products sold are the materials that go into construction projects rather than the tools used for construction. Businesses may also have manufacturing or retailing operations, though industry revenue only reflects the wholesale function. Related terms covered in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include wholesale bypass, vertical integration and diy.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include Timber products, Floor and wall coverings and Paint, varnish and adhesives.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include Travis Perkins plc, STARK Building Materials UK Ltd and Huws Gray Ltd.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?
The market size of the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is £42.9bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom in 2025?
There are 5,079 businesses in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom has been growing at a CAGR of 3.3 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The biggest companies operating in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom are Travis Perkins plc, STARK Building Materials UK Ltd and Huws Gray Ltd
What does the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom include?
Timber products and Paint, varnish and adhesives are part of the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The company holding the most market share in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom is Travis Perkins plc.
How competitive is the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Construction Supplies Wholesaling industry in the United Kingdom.
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