NAICS 331410

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the U.S. standard for classifying business establishments to support the collection, analysis, and publication of economic statistics. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS enables comparability with Canada and Mexico; current published economic statistics use the 2022 vintage. ¹
Under the 2022 NAICS, 331410 is the industry group “Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining,” covering establishments primarily engaged in smelting nonferrous metal ores and/or the primary refining of nonferrous metals (except aluminum). It includes the U.S. industries 331411 (Primary Smelting and Refining of Copper) and 331419 (Primary Smelting and Refining of Nonferrous Metal (except Copper and Aluminum)). ²

What this NAICS covers

• Smelting ores into nonferrous metals (except aluminum). ²
• Primary refining of nonferrous metals using electrolytic or other metallurgical processes. ²
• Primary copper smelting and refining activities classified in 331411. ²
• Primary smelting/refining of nonferrous metals other than copper and aluminum, as defined in 331419. ²
• Integrated primary operations that produce basic forms for subsequent rolling, drawing, or casting. ²
• Outputs commonly produced as primary forms (e.g., ingots, wire bars, cakes, slabs) for downstream processing. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Size standard (SBA)

• Small business size standard for 331410: 1,000 employees (effective March 17, 2023), per SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards. ³

Official cross-references and exclusions

• Aluminum primary production is outside 331410 and classified in 331312. ²
• Secondary smelting/refining from scrap (nonferrous, except copper and aluminum) is classified in 331492. ²
• Rolling/drawing/extruding of copper is classified in 331420; for nonferrous metals other than copper and aluminum, see 331491. ²
• Mining and making metal concentrates (including gold and silver bullion) are in Sector 21, Industry Group 2122, not 331410. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What activities fall under NAICS 331410?
  Establishments primarily smelting nonferrous ores and/or conducting primary refining of nonferrous metals (except aluminum). It encompasses 331411 for copper and 331419 for other nonferrous metals. ²

• How is 331410 different from aluminum production?
  Aluminum is excluded. Primary aluminum production is classified in 331312, and secondary aluminum smelting/alloying in 331314. ²

• What is the SBA small business size standard for 331410?
  The size standard is 1,000 employees, as listed in SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards effective March 17, 2023. ³

• Are mining and ore beneficiation included in 331410?
  No. Mining and beneficiating metal ores (including production of concentrates and some bullion at the mine) fall under Industry Group 2122. Refining concentrates into primary metals is within 331410. ⁴

• Which PSC codes often correspond to outputs of 331410 operations?
  Commonly used product codes include 9530 (Bars and Rods, Nonferrous Base Metal) and 9535 (Plate, Sheet, Strip, and Foil; Nonferrous Base Metal), reflecting primary forms produced for downstream use. ⁵

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 331410 overview
• Census NAICS definition and cross‑references for 33141/331411/331419. ²
• SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). ³
• PSC Manual (product code definitions for nonferrous primary forms). ⁵
• Census guidance on implementing the 2022 NAICS vintage. ⁶

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS (About and resources). https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS definition for Industry Group 33141 (covers 331411 and 331419). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=33141&year=2022&details=33141
3. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-03/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023.pdf
4. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS definition for Industry Group 2122 (Metal Ore Mining). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=2122&year=2022&details=2122
5. U.S. General Services Administration — Product and Service Codes (PSC) Manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual
6. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS Reference Files and Tools (2022 implementation resources). https://www.census.gov/naics/reference-files-tools/