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Primary Metals Manufacturing Industry
NAICS 331 Scope of this Industry

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.
(2002 NAICS Definitions, U.S. Census Bureau)

Resources available for research in this industry subsector include:

  • Business materials available through the Schreyer Business Library
  • Technical information relating to mining, smelting , and refining metals available through the Earth & Mineral Sciences Library

Industry Definitions

Code NAICS Sector ( WHAT is NAICS? )
331
Primary Metal Manufacturing
3311
Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing
3312 Steel Product Manufacturing from Purchased Steel
3313 Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing
3314 Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Production and Processing
3315 Foundries

Databases for Industry Research

Standard & Poor's NetAdvantage

  1. - Industry surveys
  2. - Bond ratings
  3. - Company profiles and corporation records
  4. - Stock, bond and fund research
Plunkett Research Online (Industry Information)
  1. - Industry sector analysis and research
  2. - Industry trends and statistics
  3. - Market research and trends
  4. - Company profiles
Reuters Research On-Demand
  1. - Real-time full-text investment research
  2. - Reports cover companies and industries
  3. - Over 750 contributing firms
ValueLine
  1. - Aggregate data and analysis on industries
  2. - Reports, articles, and company highlights

ABI/Inform (via ProQuest)

  1. - Indexes over 1000 business periodicals
  2. - Trade journals, business magazines, academic journals and other news sources
  3. - Most articles full text

IBISWorld

  1. - Over 700 full-text industry reports
  2. - Over 700 US industry risk rating reports
  3. - Information on over 8000 Publicly Traded Companies
  4. - Hundreds of economic and demographic profiles

For additional database choices, see:

  1. Database Descriptions
  2. Database Comparison Chart

Industry Data

U.S.Data

Annual Capital Expenditures Survey (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Statistical survey report
  • Covers capital investment in new and used structures and equipment by nonfarm businesses
  • Based on a sample of approximately 61,000 companies (about 25% of these have no employees)

Annual Survey of Manufactures (U.S. Census Bureau)

  • Published annually except for years ending in 2 and 7.
  • Statistical survey covering:
    • employment
    • payroll
    • worker hours
    • payroll supplements
    • cost of materials
    • value added by manufacturing
    • capital expenditures
    • inventories
    • energy consumption
    • value of shipments

CNN/Money - Commodities Report (current)

Country and Product Trade Data (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Monthly import and export data by:
    • country
    • end-use
    • NAICS
    • SITC (Standard International Trade Classification)

Current Industrial Reports (Annual - U.S. Census Bureau)

The Financials.com Commodity Library (current and historical prices)

Free Market Price Guide - American Metals Market (Current prices for ferroalloys, noble alloys, etc.)

Imports of Steel Products (U.S. Census Bureau)

  • U.S. imports for consumption
  • by detailed steel commodity category and country
  • Preliminary and final data are released monthly.
Industrial Production and Capacity Utilization (Federal Reserve System)
  • Monthly index of industrial production and the related capacity indexes and capacity utilization rates
  • Covers manufacturing, mining, and electric and gas utilities
  • See "Supplemental Monthly Release" for details by industry
  • Data available from 1972 to present, recompiled by NAICS industry codes
Industry Economic Accounts (Bureau of Economic Analysis)
  • Gross domestic product by industry
  • Input-output accounts among industries showing:
    • commodities that are produced by each industry
    • inputs to industry production
    • commodities consumed by final users
  • Transportation satelite account
  • Travel and tourism satelite account
International Trade Commission
  • Independent federal agency
  • Provides trade expertise to the legislative and executive branches of government
  • Determines the impact of imports on US industries
  • Directs actions against certain unfair trade practices.
Inventories of Steel Producing Mills (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Inventories of Producing mills and steel service centers
  • Imports for consumption
  • Manufacturers net shipments
  • Monthly and annual data online from 1996 to date
Iron and Steel Mills 2002 (U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census)
  • Number of establishments, employees and total payrool
  • Number of production workers, hours and production wages
  • Materials consumed and cost of materials
  • Value added by manufacture
  • Quantity and value of products of this industry
  • Value of shipments
  • Total capital expenditures
  • By NAICS codes under "331111-Iron and Steel Mills"
  • Data for 2002 - compiled only once every five years
  • Some data elements are compiled annually in the Annual Survey of Manufactures and similar reports
Labor Productivity and Costs (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
  • Major Sector Productivity and Costs program
  • Industry Productivity and Costs program (3-, 4-, 5-, and 6-digit NAICS industry codes)

London Metal Exchange (current and historical prices for nonferrous metals - copper, aluminum, etc.)

Manufacturers' Shipments, Inventories, and Orders (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Monthly statistical data
  • Industries by NAICS code
  • Value of shipments
  • Inventories
  • New orders received and unfilled orders

New York Mercantile Exchange (current and historic prices and futures)

Quarterly Financial Report for Manufacturing, Mining, and Trade Corporations (U.S. Census Bureau)
  • Aggregate statistics on the financial position of U.S. corporations
  • Estimated statements of income and retained earnings, balance sheets, and related financial and operating ratios
  • Domestic operations of all manufacturing corporations with assets over $250,000
  • Corporations in the mining and trade areas with assets over $50 million
  • Data by 3- and 4-digit NAICS industry codes and by asset size
  • Data available online from first quarter of 1996 to present.  Previous data available in print (See The CAT record for holdings and location)
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
  • Government agency with responsibility for enforcing compliance with clean air laws and other environment-related legislation.
U.S. Geological Survey
  • Publishes information and statistics on worldwide supply, demand, and flow of minerals and materials.
  • See Commodity Statistics & Information for current and historical data about prices, supplies, and industry information regarding metals and other non-energy minerals.

World Data

Eurostat (European Union)

  • General statistics
  • Economy and finance
  • Population and social conditions
  • Industry, trade and services
  • Agriculture and fisheries
  • External trade
  • Environment and energy

Foreign Trade Statistics (U.S. Census Bureau)

  • Data by end-use, NAICS code, country, etc.
  • Monthly, year to date, and annual compilations
  • Imports and exports, to and from the U.S.

International Trade Statistics Yearbook
United Nations
Business Library, Reference: HF91.U47301

  • Import/export values and quantities by country for commodities (v. 1)
  • Import/export values by commodity for countries (v. 2)
  • Commodities are reported by SITC instead of than NAICS

International Trade Statistics (World Trade Organization)

  • Quick profiles of members and other nations
  • Time series data (1980 - to date), for international trade in merchandise and commercial services

SourceOECD ( Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development)

  • International economic policy and statistics
  • International trade data
    • Choose "Statistics"
    • Choose "ITCS"
    • Choose an OECD country
  • Economic indicators
UN Comtrade (United Nations Commodity Trade Statistics Database)
  • Commodity trade data for all available countries and areas since 1962.

World Development Indicators (World Bank)

  • Nearly 800 statistical indicators
  • Social and economic development.
  • World View
  • People
  • Environment
  • Economy
  • States and Markets
  • Global Links

SELECTED Companies

Resources for Identifying Companies in the Industry

Hoover’s Online

Lexis/Nexis Corporate Affiliations
Business Library, Reference: HG4057.A219

Mergent Online

Ward’s Business Directory of U.S. Private and Public Companies
Business Library, Reference: HG4057.A56


Library Collections

Selected Reference Titles

For additional materials, contact the Schreyer Business Library.

Almanac of Business and Industrial Financial Ratios*
Business Library, Reference: HF5681.R25T68

Business Statistics of the United States
Business Library, Reference: HC101.A13122

The CRB Commodity Yearbook (Knight-Ridder Financial/Commodity Research Bureau)
Life Sciences Library, Reference: HF1041.C5601

Encyclopedia of Global Industries
Business Library, Reference: HC102.E333

Industry Norms and Key Business Ratios*
Business Library, Reference: HF5681.R2515

RMA Annual Statement Studies*
Business Library, Reference: HF5667.R701

* Resources marked with an asterik (*) report industry norms for common financial ratios, often used to compare one company's performance against the industry.

Call # Ranges

Business aspects of mineral and metal industries
3rd Floor Paterno: HD9506-9663

Metals chemistry
EMS Library and PAMS Library: QD171-172

Mineralogy
EMS Library: QE351-399.2

Mining engineering, metallurgy
EMS Library & Engineering Library: TN1-997

Metal manufacturing, metalworking
EMS Library & Engineering Library: TS200-770


Trade Associations

Examples:

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

International Iron and Steel Institute

Metals Service Center Institute (MSCI)

World Steel Organization

Career Information

American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI)

Career Guide to Industries (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Business Library, Reference: HF5382.5.U5 C3162

Occupational Outlook Handbook (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Business Library, Reference: HD8051.A623

Steel Manufacturers Association

SteelPeople.com

Vault Online Career Library (Currently, Vault Guides are facing problems opening in Adobe Reader 8.x. Please see here for using FREE Adobe Digital Editions to access these guides)

  1. - Vault provides full-text career and industry guides
  2. - Includes company profiles, occupation descriptions, and career-related articles

Career Guide to Industries  (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Business Library, Reference: HF5382.5.U5 C3162

Occupational Outlook Handbook  (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
CAT record for print copies
Business Library, Reference: HD8051.A623

Career Resources Page

 

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