Research

NAW Research: Distributor-Supplier Relationships Hold Steady

Most distributors report stable supplier relationships over the past two years, while manufacturers report significantly greater improvement. See commentary and results from the latest 2Q26 NAW-Baird Industrial Distribution Survey.

July 27, 2026

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Have distributor-supplier relationships entered a period of stability following several years of pandemic-induced disruption and supply chain volatility? The latest NAW-Baird Industrial Distribution Survey results could suggest they may have. Most distributors participating in the 2Q26 NAW-Baird Industrial Distribution Survey said their relationships with suppliers have remained largely unchanged over the past two years. Among the approximately 300 survey respondents — primarily distributors, along with manufacturers and other industry participants —

52%

reported no change to their…

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