SIC code 46720 classifies businesses engaged in wholesale of metals and metal ores. There are 1,492 active companies registered under this code in the UK, forming a substantial sector within the national economy. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Wholesale of metals and metal ores industry page.
With a 86% survival rate, this sector shows strong business longevity. Only 12 of 1,733 companies registered under this code have dissolved, well below the UK average. The average company age is 15.7 years, indicating an established sector with a mix of long-running businesses and newer entrants. The sector is experiencing strong growth, with 40% of active companies formed since 2020 and 23% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate points to continued demand for wholesale of metals and metal ores services. The leading locations for this sector are LONDON (309), SHEFFIELD (46), BIRMINGHAM (44), which together account for 27% of active companies.
SIC code 46720 stands for "Wholesale of metals and metal ores" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 1,492 active companies registered under SIC code 46720 in the UK, out of 1,733 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 86%, meaning 14% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for wholesale of metals and metal ores companies (SIC 46720) are: LONDON (309), SHEFFIELD (46), BIRMINGHAM (44), DUDLEY HILL (32), BRADFORD (28). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
The sector is growing: 40% of currently active SIC 46720 companies were formed since 2020, and 23% during the 2010s. This sustained formation rate indicates ongoing demand for wholesale of metals and metal ores services in the UK.
Companies classified under SIC 46720 have an average age of 15.7 years. This indicates a mature sector where businesses tend to operate long-term. Notable companies include RIGHTON & BLACKBURNS LIMITED, BARRETT STEEL LIMITED, NATIONAL TUBE STOCKHOLDERS LIMITED.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 46900 (Non-specialised wholesale trade), 46190 (Agents involved in the sale of a variety of goods), 46420 (Wholesale of clothing and footwear), 46160 (Agents involved in the sale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 46720 (Wholesale of metals and metal ores) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 1,492 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.