Analysis
NAICS 423510 is the 2022 national industry for metal service centers and other metal merchant wholesalers, part of 42351 (Metal Service Centers and Other Metal Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 60 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 8,608 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 145,207 people at an average annual payroll of $85,374 per employee (74th percentile of national industries). 39% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include aluminum and aluminum alloy primary forms merchant…, aluminum foil, plate, sheet, coil, and roll products…, bars, metal (except precious), merchant wholesalers and bearing piles, metal, merchant wholesalers, among 60 in all.
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.
Census lists 3 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 423940, 423930 and 423610. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
For example, merchant wholesale distribution of gold, silver, and platinum are classified in 423940 (Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of products of the primary metals industries. Service centers maintain inventory and may perform functions, such as sawing, shearing, bending, leveling, cleaning, or edging, on a custom basis as part of sales transactions.
Illustrative Examples:
Cast iron pipe merchant wholesalers Metal rods merchant wholesalers Metal bars (except precious) merchant wholesalers Metal sheets merchant wholesalers Metal spikes merchant wholesalers Metal ingots (except precious) merchant wholesalers Metal pipe merchant wholesalers Nails merchant wholesalers Metal plates merchant wholesalers Noninsulated wire merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of gold, silver, and platinum | 423940 Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of automotive, industrial, and other recyclable metal scrap | 423930 Recyclable Material Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of insulated wire | 423610 Electrical Apparatus and Equipment, Wiring Supplies, and Related Equipment Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (60)
- Aluminum and aluminum alloy primary forms merchant wholesalers
- Aluminum foil, plate, sheet, coil, and roll products merchant wholesalers
- Bars, metal (except precious), merchant wholesalers
- Bearing piles, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Billets, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Black plate merchant wholesalers
- Blooms, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Cable, wire (except insulated), merchant wholesalers
- Carbon and alloy steel primary forms merchant wholesalers
- Cast iron pipe merchant wholesalers
- Castings, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Concrete reinforcing bars merchant wholesalers
- Copper and copper alloy primary forms merchant wholesalers
- Ferroalloys merchant wholesalers
- Ferrous metals merchant wholesalers
- Forgings, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Foundry products merchant wholesalers
- Galvanized iron and steel products merchant wholesalers
- Grinding balls merchant wholesalers
- Ingots (except precious) merchant wholesalers
- Lead primary forms merchant wholesalers
- Metal pipe merchant wholesalers
- Metal products (e.g., bars, ingots, plates, rods, shapes, sheets) merchant wholesalers
- Metals sales offices
- Metals service centers
- Metals, ferrous and nonferrous, merchant wholesalers
- Nails merchant wholesalers
- Nickel and nickel alloy primary forms merchant wholesalers
- Nonferrous metals (except precious) merchant wholesalers
- Noninsulated wire merchant wholesalers
- Pig iron merchant wholesalers
- Pilings, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Pipe, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Poles, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Posts, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Rails and accessories, metal, merchant wholesalers
- Reinforcement mesh and wire merchant wholesalers
- Rods, metal (except precious), merchant wholesalers
- Ropes, wire (except insulated), merchant wholesalers
- Semi-finished metal products merchant wholesalers