NAICS 331

What is the NAICS code 331?

The NAICS code 331 is applied to those industries related to 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.

Therefore, all companies engaged in any industrial activity related to this type of business are grouped under category 331 in the North American Industry Classification System.

This industrial activity of NAICS code is structured as follows:

• 33 - Manufacturing
• 331 - Primary Metal Manufacturing

Characteristics of the North American Industry Classification System code 331

NAFTA

This NAICS code is used in the trilateral agreement of the three members of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA): United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Related codes

There are no cross-reference for the NAICS industry 331.

Related activities

There is no Alternate NAICS Descriptions for the Primary Metal Manufacturing industry (NAICS Code 331).