NAICS 331 - Primary Metal Manufacturing

Industries in the Primary Metal Manufacturing subsector smelt and/or refine ferrous and nonferrous metals from ore, pig, or scrap, using electrometallurgical and other process metallurgical techniques. Establishments in this subsector also manufacture metal alloys and superalloys by introducing other chemical elements to pure metals. The output of smelting and refining, usually in ingot form, is used in rolling, drawing, and extruding operations to make sheet, strip, bar, rod, or wire, and in molten form to make castings and other basic metal products.

Primary manufacturing of ferrous and nonferrous metals begins with ore or concentrate as the primary input. Establishments manufacturing primary metals from ore and/or concentrate remain classified in the primary smelting, primary refining, or iron and steel mill industries regardless of the form of their output. Establishments primarily engaged in secondary smelting and/or secondary refining recover ferrous and nonferrous metals from scrap and/or dross. The output of the secondary smelting and/or secondary refining industries is limited to shapes such as ingot or billet that will be further processed. Recovery of metals from scrap often occurs in establishments that are primarily engaged in activities, such as rolling, drawing, extruding, or similar processes.

Excluded from the Primary Metal Manufacturing subsector are establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing ferrous and nonferrous forgings (except ferrous forgings made in steel mills) and stampings. Although forging, stamping, and casting are all methods used to make metal shapes, forging and stamping do not use molten metals and are included in Subsector 332, Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing. Establishments primarily engaged in operating coke ovens are classified in Industry 32419, Other Petroleum and Coal Products Manufacturing.

• Includes smelting and refining of ferrous and nonferrous metals from ore, pig, or scrap.
• Manufactures metal alloys and superalloys by adding chemical elements to pure metals.
• Output forms include ingots, billets, and molten metals for further processing.
• Excludes forging and stamping activities, which fall under fabricated metal product manufacturing.
• Primary production focuses on metals from ore or concentrate; secondary production recovers metals from scrap.
• Serves as foundational suppliers for rolling, drawing, extruding, and casting operations.

• Smelting ferrous and nonferrous metals from raw ore or scrap.
• Refining metals to achieve desired purity and chemical composition.
• Producing metal alloys and superalloys by chemical element addition.
• Casting molten metals into ingots or billets for downstream use.
• Recovering metals through secondary smelting and refining from scrap materials.
• Supplying raw metal products for infrastructure, defense, and manufacturing projects.
• Ensuring compliance with metallurgical quality standards and specifications.
• Collaborating with government agencies for specialized metal production requirements.

• Primary metal smelters and refiners
• Alloy and superalloy manufacturers
• Secondary metal recyclers and refiners
• Industrial metal casting firms
• Metal processing and fabrication suppliers