NAICS 331313 Quarterly Industry Report
Alumina Refining and Primary Aluminum Production
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 331313Sector: 33Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This industry profile for Alumina Refining and Primary Aluminum Production (NAICS 331313) draws on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[6], Bureau of Labor Statistics[10], and SBA size standards database[7]. Published by Fair Market Value and updated quarterly, it provides valuation professionals, metals industry analysts, and aluminum sector investors with current market data. All quantitative claims are sourced to publicly verifiable databases.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the alumina refining and primary aluminum production industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Alumina Refining and Primary Aluminum Production (NAICS 331313) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in refining alumina from bauxite, making aluminum from alumina, and making aluminum from alumina while also rolling, drawing, extruding, or casting it into primary forms per the U.S. Census Bureau[5]. Activities include Bayer process alumina refining, Hall-Heroult electrolytic smelting, aluminum ingot and billet casting, and primary aluminum alloy production.
Primary aluminum production is among the most energy-intensive manufacturing processes, consuming roughly 13,000-15,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per metric ton of aluminum produced through electrolytic reduction. Domestic smelting capacity has declined substantially over the past two decades as older potlines closed under pressure from low-cost international production in China, the Middle East, and Canada where electricity costs are lower. Alcoa Corporation, Century Aluminum Company, and Magnitude 7 Metals operate the remaining active U.S. smelters. Per Census Bureau[6] data, roughly 10 establishments employ about 3,800 workers in this highly concentrated sector. Alumina refining operations process imported bauxite ore through the Bayer chemical process to produce aluminum oxide feedstock for smelters. Section 232 tariffs on imported aluminum have supported domestic smelter operations by raising the effective price of competing foreign primary aluminum entering U.S. markets.
Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], the size standard is 1,300 employees. The EPA[8] regulates perfluorocarbon emissions, spent potliner waste, and red mud disposal from refining operations. OSHA[9] enforces safety standards for high-temperature smelting environments, chemical handling in alumina refining, and electrical hazards in potroom operations.
What's Included in This Industry
- Bayer process alumina refining from bauxite
- Hall-Heroult electrolytic aluminum smelting
- Primary aluminum ingot and billet casting
- Primary aluminum alloy production
- Molten aluminum processing and treatment
- Potline operation and cell maintenance
- Anode manufacturing for smelting operations
- Alumina calcination processing
- Primary aluminum rolling and extrusion
- Aluminum powder and flake production
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Primary Metal Manufacturing | 331 |
| Industry Group | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 3313 |
| NAICS Industry | Alumina and Aluminum Production and Processing | 33131 |
| National Industry | Alumina Refining and Primary Aluminum Production | 331313 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 331314 | Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum | Secondary Smelting and Alloying of Aluminum recovers aluminum from scrap through remelting operations that complement primary production by supplying recycled aluminum to casting and fabrication customers at lower energy cost than primary smelting |
| 331315 | Aluminum Sheet, Plate, and Foil Manufacturing | Aluminum Sheet, Plate, and Foil Manufacturing converts primary aluminum into flat-rolled products through rolling operations that consume ingot and slab output from primary smelters in this classification |
| 331318 | Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding | Other Aluminum Rolling, Drawing, and Extruding processes primary aluminum into extruded shapes, drawn tube, and rolled products for construction, transportation, and industrial applications downstream of primary production |
| 331110 | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing | Iron and Steel Mills and Ferroalloy Manufacturing operates large-scale primary metals smelting with similar energy intensity, capital requirements, and environmental compliance obligations as primary aluminum production facilities |
| 331410 | Nonferrous Metal (except Aluminum) Smelting and Refining | Nonferrous Metal Smelting and Refining processes copper, lead, zinc, and other nonferrous metals through smelting and refining operations that parallel aluminum production in metallurgical process complexity and environmental regulation |
| 212230 | Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining | Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc Mining extracts metallic ores through mining operations that parallel bauxite mining as upstream raw material supply for nonferrous metals smelting and refining industries |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ohio | 60.0% | 6 |
| 2 | Louisiana | 40.0% | 4 |
% Of Establishments
0%
60%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
8
Total SBA Loans
$1.2M
Total Loan Volume
$150K
Average Loan Size
10 yrs
Average Loan Term
12.25%
Average Interest Rate
128
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Per the SBA Table of Size Standards[7], Alumina Refining and Primary Aluminum Production (NAICS 331313) has a size standard of 1,300 employees for federal small business contracting purposes. SBA lending programs[11] may support qualifying primary aluminum operations including energy efficiency upgrades and environmental compliance investments. Eligible businesses can access SBA 7(a) loans[12] for working capital, equipment, and acquisition financing, while 504 loans[13] support major fixed-asset purchases including real estate and heavy machinery.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BayFirst National Bank | 8 | $1.2M | $150K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What is the NAICS code for aluminum smelting?
NAICS 331313 covers alumina refining and primary aluminum production including Bayer process refining and Hall-Heroult electrolytic smelting per the U.S. Census Bureau[5].
What is the SBA size standard?
Per the SBA size standard[7], the threshold is 1,300 employees for federal small business contracting eligibility and SBA lending products for alumina refining and primary aluminum production operations.
How many primary aluminum smelters operate in the U.S.?
Per Census Bureau[6] data, roughly 10 establishments employ about 3,800 workers in this highly concentrated sector, with domestic smelting capacity having declined substantially as older potlines closed over the past two decades.
Why is aluminum smelting energy-intensive?
The Hall-Heroult electrolytic process requires 13,000-15,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity per metric ton of aluminum produced, making electricity cost the primary competitive factor per Bureau of Labor Statistics[10] industry analysis.
Who are the major U.S. aluminum producers?
Alcoa Corporation, Century Aluminum Company, and Magnitude 7 Metals operate the remaining active domestic smelters per Census Bureau[6] establishment data, with Alcoa maintaining the largest global primary aluminum production footprint among U.S.-based companies.
How do tariffs affect primary aluminum?
Section 232 tariffs on imported aluminum have supported domestic smelter operations per International Trade Administration[14] enforcement data, raising the effective price of foreign primary aluminum entering U.S. markets and improving domestic producer competitiveness.
What environmental regulations apply?
The EPA[8] regulates perfluorocarbon greenhouse gas emissions from smelting, spent potliner hazardous waste disposal, red mud storage from alumina refining, and air and water quality standards for primary aluminum production facilities.
What is the Bayer process?
Bayer process alumina refining dissolves aluminum oxide from bauxite ore using caustic soda solution, separating it from iron oxide and silicate impurities to produce calcined alumina feedstock for electrolytic smelting per Census Bureau[6] process classification.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
- [6]Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [7]SBA Table of Size Standards sba.gov
- [8]EPA epa.gov
- [9]OSHA osha.gov
- [10]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [11]SBA lending programs sba.gov
- [12]SBA 7(a) loans sba.gov
- [13]504 loans sba.gov
- [14]International Trade Administration trade.gov
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