Rexel USA delivered a strong performance in the second quarter, helping to drive global growth for the parent company Rexel Group even as sales in Europe continued to decline.
North America was the top-performing region for the international electrical distributor, with sales in the U.S. up 8.2% and Canada rising 10.9% from the same period a year ago. These gains were fueled by strong demand across key sectors including data centers, broadband infrastructure, industrial construction, and large-scale commercial projects.
Overall, Rexel’s global sales rose to €4.95 billion ($5.38 billion) in the second quarter of 2025, up 1.8% when adjusting for currency and calendar effects. The first half sales reached €9.78 billion ($10.63 billion), a modest year-over-year increase of 1.6%.
But while Rexel gained ground in North America, its European operations, which still make up half of total revenue, continued to slide. Second-quarter sales fell 3% across the region, dragged down by ongoing weakness in construction and industrial activity. The U.K. saw the steepest decline at 8%, followed by drops in Germany, Belgium, and the Nordics. France held up better, slipping just 1% as Rexel grew market share despite soft demand.
Net profit for the first half of the year dropped 26% to €261.6 million ($284 million), due in part to a €124 million fine from French competition authorities paid in April. Rexel has appealed the decision.
Despite the profit dip, the company maintained its full-year outlook. CEO Guillaume Texier said the group’s focus on high-growth markets, digital tools, and cost discipline is helping it manage through the downturn in Europe.
“Rexel gained momentum in the second quarter, with accelerating sales growth driven by stronger volumes in North America,” Texier said. “We delivered solid performance in data centers and broadband infrastructure and held or grew share in key European markets, despite ongoing softness.”
Digital sales rose to 33.6% of total revenue in the quarter—up two percentage points from a year ago—as more customers turned to online ordering and automation. In North America, digital penetration jumped to 24.3% of sales, boosted by improvements in pricing tools and electronic data interchange.
Rexel also continued its acquisition strategy in the first half of the year, completing five deals aimed at expanding both its core business and adjacent services. U.S. additions included Warshauer and Schwing, both focused on the Northeast. In Canada, Rexel acquired Jacmar and Apex, while in Europe it added Italian electrical specialist Tecno BI.
With North America carrying the load and further cost-cutting measures in place, Rexel is positioning itself to weather a choppy economic environment. The company says it remains on track to hit its longer-term growth targets under its “Axelerate 2028” strategy.
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