Industry Statistics and Trends
Market size and recent performance (2015-2030)
Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 2.8 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated €61.9bn in 2025.
Trends and Insights
Heat pumps are becoming increasingly important as a growth driver in the wholesale trade for sanitary installation supplies and construction elements
- Since 2022, the German market for heat pumps has been caught between political control, high media attention and fluctuating demand. The boom in recent years has been driven primarily by the Building Energy Act (GEG), which has significantly boosted demand for renewable heating systems such as heat pumps since 2020 and especially since its amendment in 2024 with stricter requirements. According to figures from the German Heat Pump Association (BWP), sales of heating heat pumps rose by 53% to 236,000 units in 2022 and by a further 50% to 356,000 units in 2023. The desire for independence from fossil fuels, increased energy costs and government subsidy programmes such as the Federal Subsidy for Efficient Buildings (BEG) with reimbursements of up to 70% of investment costs are fuelling this development.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2026-2031)
Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
The future of the wholesale trade for sanitary installation supplies and construction elements will be characterised by sustainability and the circular economy
- According to the European Parliament, the building sector is responsible for around 36% of CO₂-equivalent emissions in the European Union. As part of Europe's targeted green transformation, sustainability along the entire construction value chain is therefore becoming the centre of attention. The construction sector has been confronted with resource scarcity, supply chain problems and growing social pressure for more environmentally friendly processes for several years. Progressive ideas such as the cradle-to-cradle principle and urban mining focus on keeping materials in the cycle and securing the raw material base for future generations by increasing the proportion of recycled materials.
Biggest companies in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in Germany
| Company | Market Share (%)
2025 | Revenue (€m)
2025 |
|---|---|---|
GC Großhandels Contor GmbH | 3,591.0 | |
Richter+Frenzel GmbH & Co. KG | 1,290.0 | |
Schüco International KG | 810.0 |
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 Gas, water and heating installation requirements, Building supplies and Tools and hardware. Gas, water and heating installation requirements is the largest segment of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in Germany.
Trends and Insights
High energy costs are fuelling demand for gas, water and heating installations
- This segment includes radiators and boilers, bathtubs and sinks that are not made of ceramic, sanitary fittings and valves.
- More insights available in the full report
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Companies in this sector trade in installation supplies for sanitary facilities and heating systems. The sector also sells hand tools and small hardware items as well as metal and plastic construction elements. The wholesale trade in sanitary ceramics is not part of this sector.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany include Gas, water and heating installation requirements, Building supplies and Tools and hardware.Companies
Companies covered in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany include GC Großhandels Contor GmbH, Richter+Frenzel GmbH & Co. KG and Schüco International KG.Purchase this report to view all 5 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
Related terms covered in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany include b2b, construction and urbanisation.Industry Code
WZ 46.74 - Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling in Germany
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 growing bureaucratic costs from Brussels are noticeably slowing down the wholesale trade. EU regulations cause 65 billion euros in bureaucratic costs every year, with sma...
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
The demand for heating installation requirements is currently increasing Due to the current high energy costs, many households are replacing their heating systems with modern,...
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 prefer to locate near their customers. A particularly large number of industry customers such as DIY stores have settled in the Central and Southern regions, as b...
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 Europe, 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
Competitive pressure comes primarily from the manufacturers of radiators and boilers. In recent years, many manufacturers have used the direct sales channel to the end custom...
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
There are no major players in the sector. The companies in the sector are mainly small and medium-sized wholesalers that operate regionally and only have one or two locations...
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 GC Großhandels Contor GmbH's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Richter+Frenzel GmbH & Co. KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of Schüco International KG's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2019 through 2025
- Overview of revenue, market share and profit margin trend for 2 additional companies
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for GC Großhandels Contor GmbH, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Richter+Frenzel GmbH & Co. KG, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Schüco International KG, 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
Depending on the season and weather, sales can fluctuate in the industry. For example, construction projects are often delayed during a long winter, resulting in a temporary ...
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
Intense price competition leaves no room for high profit margins. However, wholesalers in the industry can increase their profitability if they succeed in negotiating volume ...
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 Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2026?
The market size of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany is €61.9bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany in 2025?
There are 4,906 businesses in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany, which has declined at a CAGR of 7.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany 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 Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.
Has the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany has been declining at a CAGR of 2.8 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The biggest companies operating in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany are GC Großhandels Contor GmbH, Richter+Frenzel GmbH & Co. KG and Schüco International KG
What does the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany include?
Gas, water and heating installation requirements and Building supplies are part of the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The company holding the most market share in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany is GC Großhandels Contor GmbH.
How competitive is the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Hardware, Plumbing & Heating Equipment Wholesaling industry in Germany.
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 Germany include:
- German Federal Statistics Office (Destatis)
- European Statistics Office (Eurostat)
- United Nations Comtrade
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.
