Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: September 2024
NAICS 42393Revenue
$104.6bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
93,655
Businesses
13,714
Wages
$X.Xbn
Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry analysis
Recyclable material wholesalers handle industrial and automotive scrap, waste paper, chemicals, plastic and other recyclable products typically used in manufacturing. Recently, the industry has grown despite volatile price changes during and after the pandemic. Post-pandemic demand for manufacturing and restricted supply chains spiked material costs in 2021, which wholesalers passed on to customers, greatly raising industry revenue. Although prices have fluctuated, they remain higher than at the beginning of the current period, as has revenue. Overall, revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.8%, reaching $104.6 in 2024 billion after an expected loss of 2.5% as commodity prices stabilize from 2022 and 2023 highs.
Trends and Insights
- Fluctuations in raw material prices have significantly impacted recyclable material wholesalers. While price spikes in 2021 raised revenues, recent declines and ongoing volatility have challenged the industry's stability.
- Recycling activities are helping boost demand for recyclable materials. This push for sustainability will help wholesalers increase revenue as more people look for alternative environmentally friendly products.
- Wholesalers are commonly located in regions that contain substantial sources of recyclable materials. The Southeast, with the largest share of the US population of any single region, produces a substantial amount of steel and nonferrous scrap.
- Competition within the industry is based mainly on the location, price and quality of the scrap being sold. By providing reliable and fast services, wholesalers can tilt the market their way.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 1.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $104.6bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Recycling wholesalers drove revenue in the pandemic despite the economic slowdown
- The pandemic severely decreased industrial activity as supply chain issues plagued the industry and consumer spending decreased in 2020. Despite this downturn, wholesalers were able to recover revenue from a low in 2019.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Revenue will be hurt by volatile and decreasing commodity prices
- Moving forward, scrap metal will remain the industry's most important product. Price fluctuations for metals will ultimately keep revenue stable in the coming years.
Biggest companies in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Steel Dynamics, Inc. | 3,335.4 | 833.0 | 25.0 | |
Sims Metal Management Ltd | 635.3 | 33.8 | 5.3 | |
Alter Trading Corporation | 564.0 | 21.4 | 3.8 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 5 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 Ferrous scrap metal, Nonferrous scrap metal and Recyclable paper and paperboard. Ferrous scrap metal is the largest segment of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US.
Trends and Insights
Ferrous metal scraps hold a lot of value for wholesalers
- Ferrous scrap products consist of iron, low- and medium-alloy steel and stainless steel scrap.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- Metal Wholesaling in the US
- Paper Wholesaling in the US
- Plastics Wholesaling in the US
Complementors
- Waste Collection Services in the US
- Waste Treatment & Disposal Services in the US
- Recycling Facilities in the US
International industries
- Recyclable Material Wholesaling in Canada
- Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in Australia
- Metal and Mineral Wholesaling in New Zealand
- Waste & Scrap Wholesaling in the UK
- Waste, Scrap & Other Product Wholesaling n.e.c. in Spain
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
This industry wholesales automotive scrap, industrial scrap and other recyclable materials, such as waste paper, glass and plastic. Industry establishments include auto wreckers that dismantle motor vehicles to wholesale salvaged scrap material and establishments that break up, sort and wholesale all forms of scrap iron and steel using power-processing equipment.
What's included in this industry?
Wholesale sales of recyclable paper and paperboardWholesale sales of recyclable ferrous metal scrapWholesale sales of recyclable nonferrous metal scrapWholesale sales of other recyclable materials including metal products, construction supplies, chemicals, textiles, and moreCompanies
Steel Dynamics, Inc.Sims Metal Management LtdAlter Trading CorporationPurchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
FERROUS METALSCRAPNONFERROUS METALMETALLURGICAL COALELECTRIC ARC FURNACES (EAF)LANDFILL TIPPING FEEIndustry Code
NAICS 42393 - Recyclable Material 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
Fluctuations in raw material prices have significantly impacted recyclable material wholesalers. While price spikes in 2021 raised revenues, recent declines and ongoing volat...
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
Recycling activities are helping boost demand for recyclable materials. This push for sustainability will help wholesalers increase revenue as more people look for alternativ...
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
Wholesalers are commonly located in regions that contain substantial sources of recyclable materials. The Southeast, with the largest share of the US population of any single...
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
Competition within the industry is based mainly on the location, price and quality of the scrap being sold. By providing reliable and fast services, wholesalers can tilt the ...
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
The Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry does not have any major companies with a market share greater than 5.0%. This is because of the industry's highly fragmented natu...
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
- Overview of Steel Dynamics, Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Sims Metal Management Ltd's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Alter Trading Corporation's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Steel Dynamics, Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Sims Metal Management Ltd, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Alter Trading Corporation, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for 2 additional companies
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
Revenue is highly sensitive to changes in the world price of commodities. Steel, iron, crude oil and other materials are beholden to international trends and production, affe...
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
Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry profit is sensitive to fluctuations in the prices of raw materials. When the price of steel, copper, nickel or other recyclable mater...
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 Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $104.6bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?
There are 13,714 businesses in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.0 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 1.8 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling market in United States are Steel Dynamics, Inc., Sims Metal Management Ltd and Alter Trading Corporation
What does the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US in United States include?
Wholesale sales of recyclable paper and paperboard and Wholesale sales of recyclable ferrous metal scrap are part of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Steel Dynamics, Inc..
How competitive is the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.
