Relative stability characterizes wholesale trade activities at the beginning of 2025, with limited improvement expected.
The High Commission for Planning reported that sales in the domestic wholesale sector increased according to 28% of business owners, while 61% reported stability in the first quarter of 2025.
The Commission attributed this development to the rise in sales of other specialized wholesale sectors and wholesale industrial equipment, whereas sales of wholesale information and communication equipment declined.
Stability was reported in the number of employees by 79% of business owners, as clarified in the quarterly economic situation note issued by the Commission. Additionally, 84% of wholesale traders indicated that inventory levels remained normal, while 68% noted stability in selling prices, with 28% reporting a decrease.
Sixty-eight percent of business owners predicted that total sales volume would remain stable in the second quarter, while 26% anticipated an increase in the same indicator.
These forecasts were primarily based on an expected increase in sales of other specialized wholesale sectors and wholesale industrial equipment, along with an anticipated decline in sales of wholesale household supplies.
Seventy-seven percent of stakeholders expected that the level of order books during the second quarter would remain normal, while 84% predicted stability in the number of employees, reflecting a general trend toward stability in the sector, albeit with limited indicators of improvement.
