Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 6.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $3.4bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Price hikes have favoured wholesalers, but prices are normalising
- Metal prices have soared over the past five years, including price spikes for steel, nickel, aluminium and copper. Wholesalers have passed on these prices, leading to revenue growth.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Sluggish revenue growth is forecast amid economic headwinds and metal pricing dynamics
- The industry is projected to face challenges over the next five years as the benefits from strong metal prices and a robust construction market that supported revenue growth through 2022-23 have diminished. Weak economic conditions and higher interest rates have already led to a slowdown in housing construction, which is forecast to worsen over the coming years, subduing demand from domestic fabricated metal product manufacturers.
Biggest companies in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Fletcher Building | 155.4 | |
Steel & Tube | 115.9 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 2 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: Alfabank-Adres
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Basic metal products, Recycled metals and Other metal and mineral products. Basic metal products is the largest segment of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand.
Trends and Insights
Despite high global metal prices, revenue for basic metal is declining due to weak demand
- The industry wholesales a variety of basic and semi-fabricated metal products – like sheets, plates, bars, rods and strips – manufactured from ferrous metals (iron and steel) and non-ferrous metals (aluminium, copper, tin and nickel).
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Firms in the industry wholesale a range of metal and mineral products. Key metal items include pig iron, ingot steel and semi-fabricated products of iron or steel, like sheets, strips, bars, rods, sections, structural steel or tubes. Coal, coke, copper, aluminium and other ferrous and non-ferrous metal ore and alloy wholesaling is included in the industry. Industry firms may also wholesale metal and precious metal waste or scrap.
What's included in this industry?
Aluminium and aluminium alloy wholesalingCopper and copper alloy wholesalingCoal and coke wholesalingIron and steel wholesalingMetallic ores wholesalingMetal scrap wholesalingMineral wholesalingNon-ferrous metal wholesalingPrecious metal scrap dealing and wholesalingSteel bar, plate, rod, and sheet wholesalingCompanies
Fletcher BuildingSteel & TubePurchase this report to view all 2 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
OREFERROUSNON-FERROUS METALIndustry Code
ANZSIC 3322 - Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand
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 Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry’s revenue surged through 2022-23 due to spiking steel prices from global supply disruptions and heightened domestic construction act...
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 (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Employees, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Businesses, including historical (2015-2024) and forecast (2025-2030)
- Profit, including historical (2015-2025)
- 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
Despite robust global metal prices, revenue for basic metal products has declined due to weaker demand from metal fabricators and slumping residential construction. Ongoing s...
In this chapter
- Products & Services
- Major Markets
Key metrics
- Largest market segment and value in 2025
- Product innovation level
Charts
- Products & services segmentation in 2025
- Major market segmentation in 2025
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
Well-established wholesalers are headquartered in Auckland. Auckland is the country's largest city and is a major economic hub; its strong transport links make it suitable fo...
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 2025
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each region in 2025
- Number and share of revenue each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of wages each region accounts for in 2025
- Number and share of employees in each region in 2025
Detailed analysis
- Geographic spread of the industry across Asia Pacific, 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
The industry is slowly consolidating. While the industry has a low market share concentration, smaller niche firms have started to exit the industry amid uncertain economic c...
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 2020-2025
- 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
Larger companies’ ability to sit on inventory helps them dominate. Companies that must continue selling when prices are low continue to experience losses.
In this chapter
- Market Share Concentration
- Companies
- Company Spotlights
Charts
- Industry market share by company in 2021 through 2025
- Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2025
- Overview of Fletcher Building's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Steel & Tube's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Fletcher Building, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Steel & Tube, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Most regulation pertains to upstream and downstream producers. Increased environmental regulations are continuing to cut into downstream demand, constraining activity for who...
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 (2015-2030)
- Assistance historical data and forecast (2015-2030)
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
As metal prices normalise after spiking in 2021-22, wholesalers' profit margins are tightening. To sustain profitability, wholesalers are shifting towards enhancing operation...
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 2025
- Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2025
- Investment vs. share of economy
Data tables
- Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Employee (2015-2030)
- Revenue per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Employees per Establishment (2015-2030)
- Employees per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- Average Wage (2015-2030)
- Wages/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Establishments per Enterprise (2015-2030)
- IVA/Revenue (2015-2030)
- Imports/Demand (2015-2030)
- Exports/Revenue (2015-2030)
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 (2015-2030)
- IVA (2015-2030)
- Establishments (2015-2030)
- Enterprises (2015-2030)
- Employment (2015-2030)
- Exports (2015-2030)
- Imports (2015-2030)
- Wages (2015-2030)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand in 2025?
The market size of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand is $3.4bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand industry in 2025?
There are 208 businesses in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand, which has declined at a CAGR of 3.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
Has the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand has been growing at a CAGR of 6.2 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling market in New Zealand?
The biggest companies operating in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling market in New Zealand are Fletcher Building and Steel & Tube
What does the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand include?
Aluminium and aluminium alloy wholesaling and Copper and copper alloy wholesaling are part of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand?
The company holding the most market share in New Zealand is Fletcher Building.
How competitive is the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand?
The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in New Zealand.
Related Industries
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Competitors
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Complementors
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Methodology
How are Alfabank-Adres reports created?
Alfabank-Adres 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 Alfabank-Adres readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of Alfabank-Adres’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.
Alfabank-Adres 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 Alfabank-Adres 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 New Zealand include:
- Statistics New Zealand
- New Zealand Company Register
- Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
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, Alfabank-Adres’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 Alfabank-Adres forecast its data?
Alfabank-Adres’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.
Alfabank-Adres 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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