Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.1 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $15.1bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Commodity prices experienced substantial growth in 2021, explaining strong industry growth
- Following the onset of the pandemic, commodity prices surged due to disruptions in supply chains and heightened demand from the manufacturing and construction sectors. This heightened demand was bolstered by historically low interest rates and government stimulus initiatives, fueling overall economic expansion.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Declines in iron and steel prices will contribute to lower sales early in the outlook
- The industry is anticipated to face a downturn in the first half of the outlook period, primarily due to projected decreases in iron ore and steel prices. This decline will directly influence the pricing of ferrous metal scraps, as it diminishes industrial demand overall and renders primary raw materials more appealing.
Biggest companies in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in Canada
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc. | 479.7 | -11.8 | -2.5 | |
Sims Metal Management Limited | 136.5 | 4.0 | 2.9 | |
AIM | 224.2 | 14.7 | 6.6 |
To view the market share and analysis for all 4 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 metal scrap, Nonferrous metal scrap and Paper and paperboard scrap. Ferrous metal scrap is the largest segment of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in Canada.
Trends and Insights
Ferrous metal scraps showed historically high price volatility, with prices remain above pre-pandemic levels
- Ferrous metal scrap represents discarded or recyclable metal materials containing iron. It comes from sources such as end-of-life vehicles, construction and demolition waste, industrial by-products, household appliances and railway components.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
The Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada wholesales automotive scrap, industrial scrap and other recyclable materials. Recyclable material wholesalers include auto wreckers that dismantle motor vehicles for wholesale scrap material. Also included are wholesalers that break up, sort and wholesale all forms of scrap iron and steel using power-processing equipment such as cranes, hydraulic shears, baling equipment and cable strippers.
What's included in this industry?
Waste bottle wholesalingWaste box wholesalingGeneral line scrap wholesalingGlass scrap wholesalingMetal scrap wholesalingOil scrap wholesalingPaper scrap wholesalingPlastic scrap wholesalingTextile waste wholesalingCompanies
Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc.Sims Metal Management LimitedAIMPurchase this report to view all 4 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
FERROUS METALNONFERROUS METAL SCRAPSMELTINGCULLETELECTRIC ARC FURNACESIndustry Code
NAICS 418110 - Recyclable Material Wholesaling in Canada
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
Commodity prices soared early in the current period due to supply chain disruptions and strong demand. This supported historically high industry growth in 2021.
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
Ferrous metal scraps have historically exhibited high price volatility. The price for ferrous metals is impacted by the global supply and demand for steel and iron ore.
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
Ontario's large population and numerous urban centers like Toronto are key reasons for its high concentration of recyclable material wholesaling establishments. This region b...
In this chapter (1)
- Business Locations
Charts
- Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
- Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024
Tables
- Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
- Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
- Number and share of employees in each province 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
The supply of recyclable materials can fluctuate based on consumer habits, municipal recycling programs and international trade policies. Suppliers with significant control o...
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
For the fifth year in a row, Corporate Knights named Cascades Inc. one of the world's top 100 most sustainable companies. The Company ranks 38th and continues to hold the top...
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 Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Sims Metal Management Limited's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of AIM's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for one additional company
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Sims Metal Management Limited, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for AIM, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description, key data and performance trends for one additional company
External Environment
Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.
Analyst insights
The Strategic Environmental Assessment in Canada promotes sustainable practices within the recyclable materials wholesaling industry. It ensures compliance with environmental...
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
Purchase costs tend to be relatively stable as a share of industry revenue, even with high commodity price volatility. This stability is due to wholesalers' ability to pass c...
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
- Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
- Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Leverage Ratios (2017-2022)
- Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
- Assets (2017-2022)
- Liabilities (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)
Top Questions Answered
Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.
What is the market size of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada in 2024?
The market size of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada is $15.1bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in Canada industry in 2024?
There are 2,251 businesses in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling market in Canada?
The biggest companies operating in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling market in Canada are Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc., Sims Metal Management Limited and AIM
What does the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in Canada include?
Waste bottle wholesaling and Waste box wholesaling are part of the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling in Canada?
The company holding the most market share in Canada is Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc..
How competitive is the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Recyclable Material Wholesaling industry in Canada.
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Competitors
Complementors
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 Canada include:
- Statistics Canada
- Industry Canada
- Canadian Business Patterns
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.
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