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US NAICS 33281 | Industry Report

Metal Plating & Treating in the US Industry Data and Analysis

CZ
Connor Zaminski
Analyst New York, United States February 2026

The demand for metal heat treating, plating and coating services has been influenced by fluctuating performance in key sectors, such as manufacturing and construction, alongside commodity price volatility in core materials like iron, steel and zinc. While recent years have seen stagnation due to industrial production weakness and global disruptions, future growth is anticipated, with lower interest rates encouraging investment in sectors such as automotive and construction. Metal plating and treating companies have adapted through outsourcing, allowing them to respond flexibly to market changes and maintain competitiveness despite global pressures. Rising demand from the aerospace, defense and renewable energy sectors for advanced metal treatment solutions is driving innovation, particularly in developing technologies to protect materials against environmental stressors. Industry revenue is forecast to grow at a five-year CAGR of 0.8% reaching $36.3 billion through the end of 2026, with an expected decline of 0.9% during the current year, stemming from input price volatility.

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What's included in this industry analysis

IBISWorld's research coverage on the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States includes market sizing, forecasting, data and analysis from 2016-2031. The most recent publication was released February 2026.

About this industry

What's this industry report about?

The Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States operates under the NAICS industry code 33281. This industry includes companies that perform work on metals or metal products. They treat metals (e.g. by applying a coating or engraving), altering not only their surface and appearance, but also their physical and chemical properties. Operators in this industry typically provide services to metal or metal-product manufacturers. Related terms covered in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States include original equipment manufacturer (oem) , brazing, annealing, galvanization and environmental protection agency (epa) .

What's included in this industry?

Products and services covered in Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States include Metal coating, engraving and allied services, Electroplating, plating, polishing, anodizing and coloring services and Metal heat-treating services.

What companies are included in this industry?

Companies covered in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States include Worthington Industries, Inc.

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 Metal Plating & Treating 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 products and service segmentation and analysis of major markets for the for the Metal Plating & Treating 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 Metal Plating & Treating 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 Metal Plating & Treating 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 Metal Plating & Treating 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 Metal Plating & Treating 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 Metal Plating & Treating 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 Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the market size of the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States in 2026?

The market size of the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States is $36.3bn in 2026.

How many businesses are there in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States in 2026?

There are 4,673 businesses in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.7 % between 2021 and 2026.

How may import tariffs affect the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States?

The Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by import tariffs with imports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

How may export tariffs affect the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States?

The Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States is unlikely to be materially impacted by export tariffs with exports accounting for a low share of industry revenue.

Has the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States has been growing at a CAGR of 0.8 % between 2021 and 2026.

What is the forecast growth of the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States?

The biggest company operating in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States is Worthington Industries, Inc.

What does the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States include?

Metal coating, engraving and allied services and Electroplating, plating, polishing, anodizing and coloring services are part of the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States?

The company holding the most market share in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States is Worthington Industries, Inc..

How competitive is the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States?

The level of competition is high and steady in the Metal Plating & Treating industry in the United States.

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