B2B distributor sales are struggling to grow so far this year.

In May, the sales of merchant wholesalers — except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices — totaled $666.7 billion. That’s up 0.4% from $654.3 billion in May 2023. And seasonally adjusted U.S. wholesale sales rose 0.7% in the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023, after declining 1.6% for 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But for B2B distributors and ecommerce sales, the story thus far this year is a tale of uneven growth. While it may be a fat city in one vertical, times are leaner in others.

Through the first five months of the year, monthly sales of merchant wholesalers, except manufacturers’ sales branches and offices, totaled $3.223 trillion. That compares with $3.299 trillion in January through May 2023, according to the Department of Commerce.

Government data for the monthly sales from distributors and wholesalers trails the calendar by two months, meaning the U.S. Department of Commerce only now just released data for May.

B2B distributor ecommerce sales

Most big public B2B distributors in 2024 are following a common theme of softer sales due to weaker performance in manufacturing productivity and slower overall economic activity.

But some are reporting stronger sales. A case in point is Global Industrial.

Global Industrial Co. started its 2024 fiscal year on a positive note, growing net sales year over year. Global Industrial revenue was $323.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31. That’s an 18.1% increase over $237.8 million in Q1 2023.

Ecommerce sales were particularly strong, the distributor said, even as the industry faced continued economic challenges.

Executives were optimistic about growth potential going forward.

“The industrial distribution market remains highly fragmented, and we have numerous opportunities for growth as we drive sales enablement across our channels, expand current relationships and acquire new customers,” outgoing CEO Berry Litwin told investors.

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