5 Largest Distribution Companies in the World

Below you can see the list of top 5 largest aerospace companies in the US. For our discussion and a more comprehensive list please see this article.

5. Wesco International (NYSE:WCC)

Revenue in 2019 (in billions of dollars): 8.18

Revenue in 2018 (in billions of dollars): 8.4

Wesco International is a Fortune 500 company located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is an electrical distribution and services company. The company was founded 98 years ago in 1922, and the company was listed in 1999. In addition to distribution services, the company also engages in manufacturing and its total revenue was $17 billion for 2019. The company has over 150,000 customers and 30,000 suppliers, while also employing 18,000 people. The company has 10 fully automated distribution centers while it also has 500 branches in America as well as internationally.

4. W.W. Grainger (NYSE:GWW)

Revenue in 2019 (in billions of dollars): 11.2

Revenue in 2018 (in billions of dollars): 11.7

Only the second US distribution company to make revenue in 11 figures is W.W. Grainger. The company was founded back in 1927 and celebrated its 93rd birthday this year. The company employs over 25,000 and had operating profits of $849 million in the latest year. It has nearly 3 million customers and is an industrial supply company engaged in supplying fasteners, tools, motors and lighting among many other offerings. In addition to an online presence, it also has a network consisting of 598 branches and 33 distribution services, which are integral in keeping up with the myriad customers that the company has.

During Covid, the company did attract negative publicity after being accused of price gouging, where the price of surgical masks had increased from $0.17 to $1, even though the company stated that the price increase was led by its suppliers. Later on, there was a partnership between Grainger, Tyvek, Dupont and the government was organized to ensure a smooth process of obtaining important material from other countries. In fact, the shipping time from the US to Vietnam and back was reduced from 90 days to just 10 days after this partnership went into effect.

3. Rexel

Revenue in 2019 (in billions of dollars): 15.8

Revenue in 2018 (in billions of dollars): 14

Rexel is a French company and the top three are all engaged in the distribution of electronic products, which is a very lucrative niche in the distribution industry due to high demand of such products. The company is headquartered in Paris, France and has over 26,000 employees. One of its many acquisitions is the supply arm of General Electric, one of the largest energy companies in the world.

2. Avnet (NASDAQ:AVT)

Revenue in 2019 (in billions of dollars): 19.5

Revenue in 2018 (in billions of dollars): 19

Avnet is the largest American distributor and just a decade ago was the largest distributor in the entire world. The company engages in the distribution of electronic products and is nearly a century old, having been founded in 1921. The company has been listed on the stock exchange since 1961, so for nearly 60 years.

1. Sonepar

Revenue in 2019 (in billions of dollars): 24

Revenue in 2018 (in billions of dollars): 20.5

The only distributor company in the world with revenues topping $20 billion is Sonepar, the French giant which engages in distribution of electronic, enabling it to take the top spot in the 5 largest distribution companies in the world. Its US division alone earns more than $3 billion in revenue. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary last year and is by far the market leader in distribution, especially of electronic and B2B products.

See also Top 11 Largest Aerospace Companies in the US and 15 Largest Drilling Companies in the World