Analysis
NAICS 4235 is the 2022 industry group for metal and mineral (except petroleum) merchant wholesalers, part of 423 (Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods). Census lists 76 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 8,892 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 147,358 people at an average annual payroll of $86,059 per employee (74th percentile of national industries). 39% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
By establishments it ranks 9th of the 9 codes at this level within Merchant Wholesalers, Durable Goods, with 4% of them.
Across its national industries Census lists 76 index entries; typical ones are aluminum and aluminum alloy primary forms merchant… and bauxite merchant wholesalers.
It splits into 2 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 42351 (Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers) with 8,608.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 7% and employment fell 2%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of products of the primary metals industries (including metal service centers) and coal, coke, metal ores, and/or nonmetallic minerals (except precious and semiprecious stones and minerals used in construction).
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (76)
- Aluminum and aluminum alloy primary forms merchant wholesalers
- Bauxite merchant wholesalers