Analysis
NAICS 423520 is the 2022 national industry for coal and other mineral and ore merchant wholesalers, part of 42352 (Coal and Other Mineral and Ore Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 16 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 284 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 2,151 people at an average annual payroll of $132,314 per employee (94th percentile of national industries). 65% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 15% and employment fell 25%. 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 5 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 423320, 423840, 4247 and 423940. 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.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include bauxite merchant wholesalers, coal dust merchant wholesalers, coal merchant wholesalers and coke merchant wholesalers, among 16 in all.
For example, merchant wholesale distribution of nonmetallic minerals used in construction, such as sand and gravel are classified in 423320 (Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of coal, coke, metal ores, and/or nonmetallic minerals (except precious and semiprecious stones and minerals used in construction, such as sand and gravel).
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of nonmetallic minerals used in construction, such as sand and gravel | 423320 Brick, Stone, and Related Construction Material Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of industrial sand | 423840 Industrial Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of crude petroleum | 4247 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of precious and semiprecious stones and metals | 423940 Jewelry, Watch, Precious Stone, and Precious Metal Merchant Wholesalers |
| Quarrying, dredging, and/or beneficiating construction sand and gravel | 212321 Construction Sand and Gravel Mining |
Index entries (16)
- Bauxite merchant wholesalers
- Coal dust merchant wholesalers
- Coal merchant wholesalers
- Coke merchant wholesalers
- Concentrates, metallic, merchant wholesalers
- Fuel, coal and coke, merchant wholesalers
- Fuller's earth merchant wholesalers
- Magnesium ores merchant wholesalers
- Metal ores merchant wholesalers
- Metallic concentrates merchant wholesalers
- Minerals (except construction materials, petroleum) merchant wholesalers
- Nonmetallic minerals (except precious and semiprecious stones and minerals used in construction, such as sand and gravel)
- Nonmetallic ores merchant wholesalers
- Ore concentrates merchant wholesalers
- Ores (e.g., gold, iron, lead, silver, zinc) merchant wholesalers
- Precious metal ores merchant wholesalers