Rexel’s third-quarter results show a distributor leaning heavily on its U.S. momentum and digital operations to counter weak construction markets abroad. The Paris-based electrical and industrial supplier reported sales of €4.758 billion ($US 5.06 billion) for the quarter ending September 30, flat from a year earlier but up 3% on a same-day basis, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of sequential improvement.
North America once again did the heavy lifting. Sales in the region climbed 7.4 percent to €2.221 billion ($US 2.36 billion), propelled by demand for datacenter and broadband infrastructure equipment in the United States. Rexel said those high-growth verticals accounted for more than half its U.S. gains, even though they make up only a small share of total revenue. The company has been expanding to meet that demand, opening a new data center-focused distribution center in Reno, Nevada, and adding capacity in Atlanta.
Canada also contributed to the region’s performance, with sales up 7.5% to €374.8 million ($US 398 million) on strength in commercial projects and communications gear.
Digital commerce continues to reshape Rexel’s model. Online transactions accounted for 33% of total sales, up from 31% a year earlier, as more customers shifted to digital tools for pricing, ordering, and delivery. In Europe, digital now represents 44% of revenue; in North America, it has grown to 23%.
While the U.S. market remains robust, Europe is still uneven. Regional sales slipped 0.5 percent to €2.258 billion ($US 2.39 billion), though conditions improved compared with earlier in the year. France rose 3.8% to €887.1 million ($US 939 million), helped by small contractors and energy-efficiency projects. The Benelux countries climbed 3.5% to €354.1 million ($US 375 million). But Germany, Austria, and Switzerland declined 2.8%, and the U.K. and Ireland dropped 10.1% amid sluggish construction and branch consolidation.
In Asia-Pacific, sales edged down 0.5% to €279.2 million ($US 296 million). Australia fell slightly, China slipped 4.1% due to weaker exports and the impact of new U.S. tariffs, while India jumped 26.1 percent, driven by automation and infrastructure investment.
Rexel confirmed its full-year forecast, expecting a modest increase in 2025 sales and stable profitability. The company has repurchased €50 million ($US 53 million) of its own shares and issued a €400 million ($US 425 million) bond to fund future investments. It also completed the sale of its Finland operations to Swedish distributor Ahlsell during the quarter.
Chief executive Guillaume Texier said the results reflect steady progress on Rexel’s long-term transformation plan. “Growth is improving in both North America and Europe as we execute our Axelerate 2028 roadmap,” he said.
That roadmap leans heavily on digitalization and logistics modernization—areas where Rexel continues to invest even as traditional construction markets cool. With one-third of its sales now digital and its U.S. business outperforming, Rexel is steadily shifting from a legacy branch network to a data-driven, technology-oriented distribution model designed to capture faster-growing markets such as datacenters, broadband, and automation.
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