Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $32.6bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Heightened prices for commodities, especially alumina, have boosted industrywide performance
- Foreign buyers of minerals and metals are the industry's most important downstream market, which makes wholesalers highly reliant on global commodity prices and demand. The pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict caused severe disruptions to global supply chains, leading to multiple price shocks for various metals and minerals wholesaled in the industry.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2025-2030)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Commodity prices are forecast to soften as trade tensions escalate, shrinking wholesalers' revenue base
- Prices for key metals and minerals, like iron ore and coal, have retracted from their highs, constraining wholesalers' revenue expansion over recent years. Alumina prices peaked in late 2024, but easing supply constraints and improving conditions are forecast to dull prices over the next few quarters. This trend will weigh on wholesalers' revenue in the coming years.
Biggest companies in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in Australia
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue ($m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
Glencore | 4,200.0 | |
Mitsui-Itochu Iron | 1,393.3 | |
CITIC Resources Australia | 410.2 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.
Products & Services Segmentation
Source: IBISWorld
Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Alumina and aluminium, Iron ore and Coal. Alumina and aluminium is the largest segment of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in Australia.
Trends and Insights
Elevated alumina and aluminium prices have inflated this segment's revenue share
- This segment includes aluminium as an ingot metal, and bauxite and alumina, which can be processed into aluminium products. Foreign aluminium producers often purchase alumina or bauxite from wholesalers to supply their smelters when faced with their own supply limitations. For example, Saudi Arabia is a major wholesale purchaser of Australian bauxite due to the poor quality of bauxite deposits in the Middle East.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Industry firms wholesale mineral and metal commodities. Industry firms also wholesale steel products, including pig iron, ingot steel and semi-fabricated products. These products can take the form of sheets, strips, bars, rods, sections, structural steel or tubes. Industry firms may also wholesale metal waste or scrap.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia include Aluminium and aluminium alloy wholesaling, Copper and copper alloy wholesaling, Coal and coke wholesaling, Iron and steel wholesaling, Metallic ores wholesaling, Metal scrap wholesaling, Mineral wholesaling, Non-ferrous metal wholesaling, Precious metal scrap dealing and wholesaling and Steel bar, plate, rod and sheet wholesaling.Companies
Companies covered in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia include Glencore, Mitsui-Itochu Iron and CITIC Resources Australia.Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia include radio-frequency identification, ore, ferrous, non-ferrous metal and wholesale bypass.Industry Code
ANZSIC 3322 - Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in Australia
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
Heightened commodity prices boosted industrywide revenue, but improved supply conditions have lowered prices from their peaks. Despite this softening, elevated export revenue...
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
A sharp rise in prices for critical and other minerals has allowed wholesalers to boost revenue. Materials crucial for the energy transition, like copper, have proven more re...
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
Wholesalers tend to cluster in major cities because it gives them access to downstream customers and cost savings through established transport infrastructure. Proximity to m...
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
Competition is high in the industry because metal and mineral products are homogeneous. It’s relatively easy for downstream buyers and upstream suppliers to switch between wh...
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
Glencore holds an influential position in the supply chain of several crucial materials mined in Australia. This allowed Glencore to ramp up the production and sale of variou...
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 Glencore's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Mitsui-Itochu Iron's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of CITIC Resources Australia's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Glencore, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Mitsui-Itochu Iron, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for CITIC Resources Australia, 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
Price fluctuations have fuelled revenue volatility for wholesalers over the past five years, emphasising the impact of global supply chain disruptions. Rapid commodity price ...
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
Price competition and steep purchase costs make it difficult for wholesalers to run up large profit margins. However, supply chain disruptions have enabled some wholesalers t...
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 Australia in 2025?
The market size of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia is $32.6bn in 2025.
How many businesses are there in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia in 2025?
There are 1,596 businesses in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia 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 Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia has been growing at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The biggest companies operating in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia are Glencore, Mitsui-Itochu Iron and CITIC Resources Australia
What does the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia include?
Aluminium and aluminium alloy wholesaling and Copper and copper alloy wholesaling are part of the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The company holding the most market share in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia is Glencore.
How competitive is the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Metal and Mineral Wholesaling industry in Australia.
Related Industries
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Competitors
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Complementors
View all industries in Australia
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 Australia include:
- Australian Bureau of Statistics
- Australian Taxation Office
- Australian Securities & Investments 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.
