2022 NAICS national industry in sector 52 Finance and Insurance

523160 Commodity Contracts Intermediation

NAICS 523160 is the US industry code for commodity contracts intermediation. It covers establishments primarily engaged in acting as principals (i.e., investors who buy or sell for their own account) in buying or selling spot or futures commodity contracts or options, such as precious metals, foreign currency, oil, or agricultural products, generally on a spread basis, or acting as agents (i.e., brokers) in buying or selling spot or futures commodity contracts or options on a commission or transaction fee basis.

Code: 523160 (2022 NAICS)
Title: Commodity Contracts Intermediation
Part of: Securities and Commodity Contracts Intermediation and Brokerage
SBA small business limit: Average annual receipts up to $47 million
Closest UK SIC: 64991, 64992, 64999, 66120 (details)

Changes coming. The NAICS 2027 revision applies to data from 1 January 2027, and SBA proposed new size standards on 20 August 2026. The values on this page are the ones in force today; we update this page when the official files change.

Official definition

This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in acting as principals (i.e., investors who buy or sell for their own account) in buying or selling spot or futures commodity contracts or options, such as precious metals, foreign currency, oil, or agricultural products, generally on a spread basis, or acting as agents (i.e., brokers) in buying or selling spot or futures commodity contracts or options on a commission or transaction fee basis.

Examples Census gives

Commodity contract trading companies
Commodity contracts brokerages
Commodity futures brokerages
Futures commodity contracts dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS descriptions.

When to use a different code

Census classifies these close-sounding activities somewhere else. Businesses mainly engaged in:

Operating commodity or securities exchange clearinghouses (including virtual currency trading exchange clearinghouses) are classified in U.S. Industry 523999, Miscellaneous Financial Investment Activities.
Reselling physical commodities are classified in Sector 42, Wholesale Trade, or in Sector 44-45, Retail Trade.

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS cross-references.

Activities listed under 523160

The Census index assigns these 24 activities to this code. If your business matches one, this is your code.

Brokerages, commodity contracts
Commodity contract pool operators
Commodity contract trading companies
Commodity contracts brokerages
Commodity contracts brokers' offices
Commodity contracts dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
Commodity contracts floor brokers
Commodity contracts floor traders (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
Commodity contracts floor trading (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
Commodity contracts options brokerages
Commodity contracts options dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
Commodity contracts traders (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
Commodity futures brokerages
Financial futures brokerages
Foreign currency exchange brokering services
Foreign currency exchange dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
Foreign currency exchange services (i.e., selling to the public)
Futures commodity contracts brokerages
Futures commodity contracts brokers' offices
Futures commodity contracts dealing (i.e., acting as a principal in dealing commodities to investors)
Trading companies, commodity contracts
Virtual currency (cryptocurrency) brokering
Virtual currency (cryptocurrency) dealing
Virtual currency exchange services (i.e., selling to the public)

Source: US Census Bureau, 2022 NAICS index file.

SBA size standard for 523160

To count as a small business for SBA loans and federal contracts under NAICS 523160, your business (including affiliates) must not exceed $47 million in average annual receipts. Check your business.

Source: SBA table of size standards, effective March 17, 2023.

Closest UK SIC 2007 codes

There is no official one-to-one link between NAICS and UK SIC. These codes share the same international class (ISIC Rev. 4: 6499, 6612), so treat them as a starting point and check the definition.

Built from Census concordances 2022→2017 NAICS and 2017 NAICS→ISIC Rev. 4.

Similar codes to compare

523150Investment Banking and Securities Intermediation

Data last changed November 14, 2026. How this page is built.