Plastics Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: February 2024
NAICS 42461Revenue
$52.5bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
32,586
Businesses
2,473
Wages
$X.Xbn
Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry analysis
As a key supply chain intermediary, plastics wholesalers distribute resin and raw plastic materials to plastic product manufacturers, other wholesalers, businesses, retailers and many other buyers. The industry has historically been vulnerable to economic fluctuations that disrupt its upstream suppliers and downstream buyers, as demonstrated during the pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Plastics wholesalers are subject to price changes in plastic materials and resin, contributing to considerable revenue volatility in recent years. Overall, industry revenue has lagged at a CAGR of 0.2% to $52.5 billion over the past five years, including a 0.3% increase in 2024.
Trends and Insights
- Wholesalers have turned to consolidation to stimulate growth. Larger wholesalers have leveraged economies of scale and existing relationships to outperform smaller companies and target niche acquisitions.
- Downstream markets are critical to wholesalers. Other wholesalers, manufacturing industries and the construction sector purchase significant plastic and resin products.
- To cut transportation costs, wholesalers position themselves near major trading hubs and supply chains. Wholesalers will frequently locate in the Great Lakes and Southeast since many plastic manufacturers are in these regions.
- Long-term distribution agreements are crucial to a plastic wholesaler's success. This impacts a wholesaler's ability to meet customer needs and limit cost fluctuations.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $52.5bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Wholesalers turn to consolidation
- Consolidation has increased as mid-sized wholesalers out-price smaller competitors and capture more lucrative direct-distribution contracts.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Green alternatives threaten plastic markets
- As consumer preferences shift toward environmentally friendly alternatives, wholesalers have rebranded to focus on recycling, sustainability and combating climate change.
Biggest companies in the Plastics Wholesaling in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($short_0)
2024 | Profit ($short_0)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|
There are no companies that hold a large enough market share in the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry for IBISWorld to include in this product.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Raw plastic materials and laminates, Plastic pipes, rods, tubes and shapes and Synthetic resins. Raw plastic materials and laminates is the largest segment of the Plastics Wholesaling in the US.
Trends and Insights
Raw plastic materials and laminates face eco-friendly alternatives
- Raw plastics and other plastic materials include polyethylene terephthalate, high-density polyethylene vinyl and polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyethylene and polypropylene.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Lumber Wholesaling in the US
- Metal Wholesaling in the US
Complementors
- Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US
- Chemical Wholesaling in the US
International industries
- Plastic Bag and Film Manufacturing in Australia
- Petroleum Product Wholesaling in Australia
- Petroleum Product Wholesaling in New Zealand
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry wholesales plastic materials and resins, as well as unsupported plastic films, sheeting, rods, tubes and other basic forms and shapes. The industry predominantly sells these products to industrial manufacturers. Manufacturers use plastic products to manufacture durable goods.
What's included in this industry?
Plastic foam wholesalingPlasticizers wholesalingBasic plastics wholesalingPlastic materials wholesalingPlastic resins wholesalingCompanies
Purchase this report to view all major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
POLYETHYLENE TEREPHTHALATEHIGH-DENSITY POLYETHYLENEVINYL AND POLYVINYL CHLORIDELOW-DENSITY POLYETHYLENEPOLYPROPYLENEWHOLESALE BYPASSIndustry Code
NAICS 42461 - Plastics Wholesaling 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
Wholesalers have turned to consolidation to stimulate growth. Larger wholesalers have leveraged economies of scale and existing relationships to outperform smaller companies ...
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
Downstream markets are critical to wholesalers. Other wholesalers, manufacturing industries and the construction sector purchase significant plastic and resin products.
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
To cut transportation costs, wholesalers position themselves near major trading hubs and supply chains. Wholesalers will frequently locate in the Great Lakes and Southeast si...
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
Long-term distribution agreements are crucial to a plastic wholesaler's success. This impacts a wholesaler's ability to meet customer needs and limit cost fluctuations.
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
Companies have looked to consolidate to increase economies of scale. Even so, no company in the industry controls a significant share of total sales.
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 industry faces light regulation. Wholesalers must acquire standard wholesaler licenses and abide by transportation and waste laws.
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
Wholesalers have attempted to lower wage costs by integrating new technology. Still, wholesalers need labor for nearly all vital services, like packing, sales and transportat...
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)
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $52.5bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?
There are 2,473 businesses in the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 2.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.
What does the Plastics Wholesaling in the US in United States include?
Plastic foam wholesaling and Plasticizers wholesaling are part of the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry.
How competitive is the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Plastics Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.
