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Nonferrous Metal Refining in the US Industry Data and Analysis
Nonferrous metal refining is highly globalized and closely linked to activity in the construction and manufacturing sectors, along with being heavily influenced by fluctuations in the price of copper and other nonferrous metals, which often reflect cyclical changes in both domestic and global demand. Despite fluctuating demand from downstream markets, the price of copper and nonferrous metals benefited from significant increases for the majority of the five years to 2025, which has helped the industry as nonferrous metal refiners increased selling prices. Nonferrous Metal Refining industry revenue has been contracting at a CAGR of -0.6% over the past five years and is expected to total $13.8 billion in 2025, when revenue will expand by an estimated 0.8%. Similarly, the average industry profit margin will remain stable around 6.5% as nonferrous metal refiners deal with supply chain disruptions and highly fluctuating input material prices.
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What's included in this industry analysis
IBISWorld's research coverage on the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2015-2030. The most recent publication was released September 2025.
About this industry
What's this industry report about?
The Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 33141. Companies in this industry smelt or refine nonferrous metals other than aluminum (IBISWorld report 33131). The smelting or refining process includes the use of both electrolytic and traditional furnace-based procedures. Some operators may provide their services on a fee-for-service basis, more commonly known as toll refining. This industry does not include secondary smelting or refining (IBISWorld reports 33142 and 33149). Related terms covered in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States include smelting, refining, electrowinning, ore, nonferrous metal, nonferrous base metal, precious metals, alloying, primary metals and secondary metals.
What's included in this industry?
Products and services covered in Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States include Copper, Zinc and Gold.
What companies are included in this industry?
Companies covered in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States include Freeport-Mcmoran Inc., Grupo Mexico S.A. De C.V. and Nyrstar Nv.
Performance
What's included in the Performance chapter?
The Performance chapter covers detailed analysis, datasets, detailed current performance, sources of volatility and an outlook with forecasts for the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include what's driving current industry performance, what influences industry volatility, how do successful businesses overcome volatility, what's driving the industry outlook. This analysis is supported with data and statistics on industry revenues, costs, profits, businesses and employees.
Products & Markets
What's included in the Products and Markets chapter?
The Products and Markets chapter covers detailed product and service segmentation, analysis of major markets and international trade data for the for the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include how are the industry's products and services performing, what are innovations in industry products and services, what products or services do successful businesses offer and what's influencing demand from the industry's markets. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by product and service segmentation and major markets.
Geographic Breakdown
What's included in the Geographic Breakdown chapter?
The Geographic Breakdown chapter covers detailed analysis and datasets on regional performance of the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States.
Questions answered in this chapter include where are industry businesses located and how do businesses use location to their advantage. This includes data and statistics on industry revenues by location.
Competitive Forces
What's included in the Competitive Forces chapter?
The Competitive Forces chapter covers the concentration, barriers to entry and supplier and buyer profiles in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on industry market share concentration, barriers to entry, substitute products and buyer & supplier power.
Questions answered in this chapter include what impacts the industry's market share concentration, how do successful businesses handle concentration, what challenges do potential industry entrants face, how can potential entrants overcome barriers to entry, what are substitutes for industry services, how do successful businesses compete with substitutes and what power do buyers and suppliers have over the industry and how do successful businesses manage buyer & supplier power.
Companies
What's included in the Companies chapter?
The Companies chapter covers Key Takeaways, Market Share and Companies in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States. This includes data and analysis on companies operating in the industry that hold a market share greater than 5%.
Questions answered in this chapter include what companies have a meaningful market share and how each company is performing.
External Environment
What's included in the External Environment chapter?
The External Environment chapter covers Key Takeaways, External Drivers, Regulation & Policy and Assistance in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States. This includes data and statistics on factors impacting industry revenue such as economic indicators, regulation, policy and assistance programs.
Questions answered in this chapter include what demographic and macroeconomic factors impact the industry, what regulations impact the industry, what assistance is available to this industry.
Financial Benchmarks
What's included in the Financial Benchmarks chapter?
The Financial Benchmarks chapter covers Key Takeaways, Cost Structure, Financial Ratios, Valuation Multiples and Key Ratios in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States. This includes financial data and statistics on industry performance including key cost inputs, profitability, key financial ratios and enterprise value multiples.
Questions answered in this chapter include what trends impact industry costs and how financial ratios have changed overtime.
Industry Data
What's included in the Industry Data chapter?
The Industry Data chapter includes 10 years of historical data with 5 years of forecast data covering statistics like revenue, industry value add, establishments, enterprises, employment and wages in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the market size of the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States in 2026?
The market size of the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States is $13.8bn in 2026.
How many businesses are there in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States in 2025?
There are 91 businesses in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 4.1 % between 2020 and 2025.
How may import tariffs affect the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States?
The Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States is likely to be significantly impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
How may export tariffs affect the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States?
The Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States is likely to be significantly impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a high share of industry revenue.
Has the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?
The market size of the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2020 and 2025.
What is the forecast growth of the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States over the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States is expected to grow.
What are the biggest companies in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States?
The biggest companies operating in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States are Freeport-Mcmoran Inc., Grupo Mexico S.A. De C.V. and Nyrstar Nv
What does the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States include?
Copper and Zinc are part of the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States.
Which companies have the highest market share in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States?
The company holding the most market share in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States is Freeport-Mcmoran Inc..
How competitive is the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States?
The level of competition is moderate and steady in the Nonferrous Metal Refining industry in the United States.
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