U.S. Distributors on Pace for Record $7-trillion Year in 2021 - Modern Distribution Management

U.S. Distributors on Pace for Record $7-trillion Year in 2021

Each of the 19 major sectors that define the U.S. wholesale distribution sector are on pace to experience positive 2021 revenue growth rates.
rebound v-shaped curve

The U.S. wholesale trade sector is on pace to finish above $7 trillion in 2021 for the first time, based on MDM forecasts and data through the third quarter. That represents a 21% increase above 2020 revenues of $5.8 trillion, which were down 4.3% from the year before. The record boost represents actual revenues, not adjusted for price inflation, and attributable to a combination of the sharp-V recovery year-to-year from the 2020 pandemic recession and not unrelated price inflation that has strengthened in the fourth quarter.

Each of the 19 major sectors that define the U.S. wholesale distribution sector are on pace to experience positive 2021 revenue growth rates from the high single-digits to 74% for oil and gas products distributors, reflecting the pricing rebound from 2020 to 2021.

MDM forecasts overall U.S. wholesale distribution revenues to grow more than 8% in 2022.

CU 1221 revenue forecast 21 and 22

Across the 19 major sectors that define the wholesale distribution sector, oil and gas products distributors are forecast to record the highest year-to-year increase in 2021 as they come back 73% ahead of 2020 revenues, which were down 29% from the year before as the pandemic lockdown kept people at home. Consumer products and computer hardware/software distributors both are expected to have the lowest year-to-year increase in revenues of 7.6%.

Beer, wine and liquor distributors are also among the low-growth sectors in distribution in 2021, as MDM forecasts that sector to finish up 7.9% over 2020 revenues. But that reflects the fact that this sector was the highest growth sector in 2020, with 7.5% growth over 2019 as people increased their alcohol purchases.

Related Posts

Share this article

About the Author
Recommended Reading
Leave a Reply

Leave a Comment

Sign Up for the MDM Update Newsletter

The MDM update newsletter is your best source for news and trends in the wholesale distribution industry.

Get the MDM Update Newsletter

Wholesale distribution news and trends delivered right to your inbox.

Sign-up for our free newsletter and get:

  • Up-to-date news in a quick-to-read format
  • Free access to webcasts, podcasts and live events
  • Exclusive whitepapers, research and reports
  • And more!

2

articles left

Want more Premium content from MDM?

Subscribe today and get:

  • New issues twice each month
  • Unlimited access to mdm.com, including 10+ years of archived data
  • Current trends analysis, market data and economic updates
  • Discounts on select store products and events

Subscribe to continue reading

MDM Premium Subscribers get:

  • Unlimited access to MDM.com
  • 1 year digital subscription, with new issues twice a month
  • Trends analysis, market data and quarterly economic updates
  • Deals on select store products and events

1

article
left

You have one free article remaining

Subscribe to MDM Premium to get unlimited access. Your subscription includes:

  • Two new issues a month
  • Access to 10+ years of archived data on mdm.com
  • Quarterly economic updates, trends analysis and market data
  • Store and event discounts

To continue reading, you must be an MDM Premium subscriber.

Join other distribution executives who use MDM Premium to optimize their business. Our insights and analysis help you enter the right new markets, turbocharge your sales and marketing efforts, identify business partners that help you scale, and stay ahead of your competitors.

Register for full access

By providing your email, you agree to receive announcements from us and our partners for our newsletter, events, surveys, and partner resources per MDM Terms & Conditions. You can withdraw consent at any time.

Learn More about Custom Reports

Request a Market Prospector Demo

  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.