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UK SIC C25.730 | Industry Report

Tool Manufacturing in the UK Industry Data and Analysis

MG
Martha Garcia Guerrero
Analyst London, United Kingdom February 2026

UK toolmakers’ revenue is anticipated to slump at a compound annual rate of 2.8% over the five years through 2025-26, falling to £1.2 billion. Weak industrial activity has hampered revenue prospects, with lingering inflationary pressure slumping output in the manufacturing, oil and gas industries in recent years. Construction activity has also been weak, with elevated borrowing costs deterring private investors. This has placed a reliance on repair and maintenance work to prop up demand for tools; however, this often requires only basic tools and generates less revenue for the industry. The vast majority of household tools are manufactured in low-cost regions and countries like China. These imported tools pose fierce competition to domestic producers and have become increasingly popular, weighing on revenue.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released February 2026.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom operates under the SIC industry code C25.730. Companies in this industry manufacture a wide range of tools used by downstream manufacturers and consumers, including small engineering tools like small forges, pressing tools, dies for machine tools and commonly used tools like scrapers, screwdrivers, nippers, pipe cutters, pliers, axes, chainsaws and circular saw blades. This industry also includes the manufacture of tools used in construction and gardening, like hoes, shovels, trowels, garden shears, hammers, etc. Related terms covered in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include machine tool, torque wrench, carbide, sintered material and downhole tools.

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include Interchangeable tools for machines, Rock-drilling and earth-boring tools and Spanners and wrenches.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include National Oilwell Varco UK Ltd, Wilson Tool International (Europe) Ltd and Guhring 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 Tool Manufacturing 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 product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Tool Manufacturing 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 Tool Manufacturing 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 Tool Manufacturing 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 Tool Manufacturing 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 Tool Manufacturing 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 Tool Manufacturing 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 Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?

The market size of the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is £1.2bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom in 2026?

There are 896 businesses in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.

Has the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom has been declining at a CAGR of 5.5 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is expected to decline.

What are the biggest companies in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The biggest companies operating in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom are National Oilwell Varco UK Ltd, Wilson Tool International (Europe) Ltd and Guhring Ltd

What does the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom include?

Interchangeable tools for machines and Rock-drilling and earth-boring tools are part of the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The company holding the most market share in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom is National Oilwell Varco UK Ltd.

How competitive is the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Tool Manufacturing industry in the United Kingdom.

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