Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)
New York, United States
Last Updated: January 2024
NAICS 42451Revenue
$254.6bn
Past 5-Year Growth
Profit
$X.Xbn
Employees
50,414
Businesses
6,114
Wages
$X.Xbn
Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry analysis
The Corn, Wheat and Soybean Wholesaling industry plays a crucial role in the agricultural supply chain, distributing key grains that form the basis of many American diets. Despite the challenging circumstances brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, demand for these staple foods remained relatively stable. With an uptick in demand during post-pandemic recovery, suppliers found it difficult to meet these new levels, leading to inflation in the prices of these agricultural products. The geopolitical conflict in Ukraine further burdened the industry through wheat supply constraints. The government's emphasis on reducing carbon emissions through subsidizing biofuels, which use corn and soybean oils as key components, has positively influenced the industry's revenue. Industry revenue has increased at a CAGR of 4.2% to $254.6 billion over the five years to 2024, despite a 5.1% decline in 2024 alone.
Trends and Insights
- Revenue for corn, wheat and soybean wholesalers has exhibited drastic volatility due to the pandemic and fluctuating agricultural prices. Subsidization of biofuels increases spending on corn and soybeans, which benefits wholesalers.
- Several factors are influencing global agricultural markets, including unpredictable weather patterns, inflation, rising fertilizer costs, ongoing trade wars and growing demand for biofuels. These changes affect supply consistency and price stability, impacting crops like corn, wheat, soybeans, sorghum, oats and barley.
- The Plains region produces the most wheat, corn and soybeans compared with every other region, as there's more arable land. Wholesalers settle in this region to be located near their sellers.
- To improve efficiency, major corn, wheat and soybean wholesalers tend to operate in other industries, such as farming and food processing. These large companies have less of an opportunity to acquire more of the wholesaling industry, so consolidation stays low.
Industry Overview
Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)
Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 4.2 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $254.6bn in 2024.
Trends and Insights
Impact of climate change on crop yields
- Over the past half-decade, the corn, wheat and soybean industry has had a pronounced impact due to progressive climate change and unpredictable weather patterns.
- Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Source: IBISWorld
Industry outlook (2024-2029)
Market size is projected to decline over the next five years.
Trends and Insights
Impacts of weather on the corn, wheat and soybean market
- It's evident that climate change has a significant influence on the agricultural sector. Potential adverse weather conditions, such as droughts or excessive rainfall, could dramatically impact crop yields.
Biggest companies in the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US
| Company | Market Share (%)
2024 | Revenue ($m)
2024 | Profit ($m)
2024 | Profit Margin (%)
2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Archer-Daniels-Midland Co | 28,368.4 | 1,445.2 | 5.1 | |
Chs Inc. | 24,553.7 | -38.4 | -0.2 | |
Cargill, Incorporated | 8,396.4 | 205.1 | 2.4 |
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 Corn, Soybeans and Wheat. Corn is the largest segment of the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US.
Trends and Insights
Corn selling is under threat from soaring fertilizer costs
- Also known as maize, corn is a large grain plant first domesticated by indigenous peoples in southern Mexico. It’s a staple crop used globally for food, animal feed and biofuel.
- More insights available in the full report
Widen you competitive advantage with related industries
Competitors
- There are no industries to display.
Complementors
- Cattle & Hog Wholesaling in the US
- Farm Supplies Wholesaling in the US
- Flower & Nursery Stock Wholesaling in the US
- Farm Product Storage & Warehousing in the US
International industries
- Cereal Grain Wholesaling in Australia
- Cereal Grain Wholesaling in New Zealand
- Grain, Seed, Animal Feed & Unmanufactured Tobacco Wholesaling in the UK
Table of Contents
About this industry
Industry definition
Operators in this industry purchase and distribute grains such as corn, rice, wheat, dry beans, soybeans and other inedible beans. They distribute these products to food processors, industrial manufacturers, animal feed producers, exporters and other buyers. The industry includes players that operate grain elevators for bulk wholesale, but excludes players that operate grain elevator establishments for storage. Wholesalers of field and garden seeds are also excluded from this industry.
What's included in this industry?
Corn WholesalingSoybean WholesalingWheat WholesalingSorghum WholesalingOats and Barley WholesalingSeeds, Beans and Rice WholesalingCompanies
Archer-Daniels-Midland CoChs Inc.Cargill, IncorporatedPurchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.
Related Terms
OILSEEDSWHOLESALE BYPASSMARKUPGENETICALLY MODIFIED (GM)GRAIN ELEVATORIndustry Code
NAICS 42451 - Corn, Wheat & Soybean 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
Revenue for corn, wheat and soybean wholesalers has exhibited drastic volatility due to the pandemic and fluctuating agricultural prices. Subsidization of biofuels increases ...
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
Several factors are influencing global agricultural markets, including unpredictable weather patterns, inflation, rising fertilizer costs, ongoing trade wars and growing deman...
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
The Plains region produces the most wheat, corn and soybeans compared with every other region, as there's more arable land. Wholesalers settle in this region to be located ne...
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
To improve efficiency, major corn, wheat and soybean wholesalers tend to operate in other industries, such as farming and food processing. These large companies have less of ...
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 largest industry companies comprise nearly 30.0% of revenue for corn, wheat and soybean wholesalers, indicating that the industry is not too consolidated. The largest ope...
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 Archer-Daniels-Midland Co's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Chs Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
- Overview of Cargill, Incorporated's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
Detailed analysis
- Description and key data for Archer-Daniels-Midland Co, and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Chs Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
- Description and key data for Cargill, Incorporated, 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
Most regulations that affect corn, wheat and soybean wholesalers relate to grain inspection, the correct methods companies must follow to process their crops and warehouse ope...
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
Major wholesalers have the ability to pass on high prices to their buyers, as food processors need goods, such as corn, wheat and soybeans, to make their products. Profit soa...
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 Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States in 2024?
The market size of the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is $254.6bn in 2024.
How many businesses are there in the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in 2024?
There are 6,114 businesses in the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 1.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
Has the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States has been growing at a CAGR of 4.2 % between 2019 and 2024.
What is the forecast growth of the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States is expected to decline.
What are the biggest companies in the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US market in United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling market in United States are Archer-Daniels-Midland Co, Chs Inc. and Cargill, Incorporated
What does the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US in United States include?
Corn Wholesaling and Soybean Wholesaling are part of the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US in United States?
The company holding the most market share in United States is Archer-Daniels-Midland Co.
How competitive is the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States?
The level of competition is high and steady in the Corn, Wheat & Soybean Wholesaling in the US industry in United States.
