Metal billets, slabs and blooms are large, massive blocks or rounds that are produced from a primary metal or during a recycling process. They are used as raw materials or feedstock in extrusion, forging, rolling, and other metal-processing operations. Metal billets are round, rectangular, or hexagonal ingots or cast, semi-finished stock with a cross-section that is suitable for secondary processing. Billets are sometimes called bar stock, and are sold as cut-lengths or coil. Metal slabs are flat, semi-finished, rolled ingots with a specific width and cross-dimensional section. They can be produced as ingots or through continuous-casting, a process that eliminates the need for primary mills and water-cooled moulds. Metal blooms are large, square sections that represent an intermediate step in the rolling process. Rolling passes metal billets, slabs and blooms between rolls that revolve at the same peripheral speed and in opposite directions.

Metal billets, slabs and blooms are made from ferrous metals such as carbon steels, alloy steels, stainless steels, cast iron, cast steel, and specialty or proprietary iron-based alloys. Carbon steel billets, carbon steel slabs, and carbon steel blooms contain carbon and small amounts of other alloying elements such as manganese or aluminum. Alloy steel billets, alloy steel slabs, and alloy steel blooms contain low to high levels of elements such as chromium, molybdenum, vanadium and nickel. Stainless steel billets, stainless steel slabs, and stainless steel blooms are highly corrosion-resistant and often contain chromium and/or nickel additions. There are three basic types of products: austenitic stainless steels, ferritic and martensitic stainless steels, and specialty stainless steels and iron superalloys. Metal billets, slabs and blooms that are made of cast iron are available in ductile iron, gray iron, or white cast-iron grades.

Non-ferrous metal billets, slabs and blooms are not based on iron, and include alloys of aluminum, copper, titanium, zinc, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, precious metals, and refractory metals. Aluminum billets, aluminum slabs, and aluminum blooms are lightweight and provide good corrosion-resistance. Copper billets, copper slabs, and copper blooms offer not only good corrosion-resistance, but also excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. Titanium billets, titanium slabs, and titanium blooms have strong fatigue properties and a high strength-to-weight ratio. Metal billets, slabs and blooms that are made of zinc, nickel, cobalt or tungsten are also available. Precious metals include silver, gold, platinum, palladium, iridium, osmium, rhodium, and ruthenium. Reactive and refractory metals include tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, tantalum, chromium, hafnium, zirconium, and titanium. Other non-ferrous metal billets, slabs and blooms are also available.