NAICS 311511

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the common framework U.S. federal statistical programs use to classify business establishments for collecting, analyzing, and publishing data on the economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget and adopted in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification, NAICS is jointly maintained with Canada and Mexico; the current vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 311511 (Fluid Milk Manufacturing) covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing processed milk products such as pasteurized milk or cream and sour cream, and in producing fluid milk dairy substitutes from soybeans and other nondairy substances. Cross-references delineate boundaries with other dairy product industries, ensuring activities like UHT/canned milk and frozen desserts are classified elsewhere. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 311511 overview
• G2X — NAICS 311512
• G2X — NAICS 311514

What this NAICS covers

• Pasteurization and processing of beverage milk and cream from raw or processed milk. ²
• Production of sour cream and similar fluid cultured dairy products. ²
• Manufacture of fluid milk substitutes from nondairy inputs (e.g., soy-based beverages). ²
• Bottling and packaging operations for fluid milk products. ³
• Cottage cheese manufacturing, per cross-reference guidance. ²
• Facility operations that receive raw milk and convert it into processed fluid products (e.g., pasteurizing/homogenizing). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	311512	Creamery Butter Manufacturing
NAICS	311513	Cheese Manufacturing
NAICS	311514	Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing
NAICS	311520	Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing

Scope notes and cross‑references

• UHT/canned milk and dry-mix whipped toppings are classified to NAICS 311514, not 311511. ²
• Frozen whipped toppings are classified to NAICS 311412. ²
• Ice cream and frozen yogurt fall under NAICS 311520. ²
• Cottage cheese manufacturing is included in NAICS 311511 (cross-referenced from NAICS 311513). ²

Adjacent industries and product mapping

• Raw milk production (milking dairy cattle) is outside manufacturing and classified in NAICS 112120 (Dairy Cattle and Milk Production). ⁵
• Related NAPCS product classes for this industry include “Fluid milk” and “Dairy product substitutes,” which align to products made by NAICS 311511. ⁶

NAICS 2022 context and data references

• Census programs are transitioning to 2022 NAICS across releases through 2027; 2022 Economic Census First Look data began in January 2024. ⁴
• 2022 Economic Census Manufacturing (Sectors 31–33) summary tables are available for industry-level statistics under the 2022 vintage. ⁷

Frequently asked questions

• What activities fall under NAICS 311511?
  Establishments primarily manufacture fluid dairy products such as pasteurized milk or cream and sour cream, and may produce fluid nondairy milk alternatives from soybeans or other inputs. Cross-references delineate boundaries with other dairy industries. ²

• Are nondairy milk alternatives included in NAICS 311511?
  Yes. Manufacturing fluid milk dairy substitutes made from soybeans or other nondairy substances is classified within NAICS 311511. ²

• Where are UHT or canned milk and frozen desserts classified?
  UHT and canned milk products belong to NAICS 311514. Ice cream and frozen yogurt are classified under NAICS 311520. ²

• Is cottage cheese part of Fluid Milk Manufacturing?
  Yes. The Cheese Manufacturing classification cross-references cottage cheese to NAICS 311511. ²

• How does NAICS 311511 differ from dairy farming?
  NAICS 311511 covers manufacturing/processing (e.g., pasteurizing and bottling). Farming activities like milking dairy cattle are classified in NAICS 112120 under Agriculture, not Manufacturing. ⁵

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 311511
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS overview and background. ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 311511 definition and cross-references. ²

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) — Main page. https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 NAICS Code 311511 — Fluid Milk Manufacturing (definition, cross-references, examples). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311511&year=2022&details=311511
3. U.S. Census Bureau. 2017 NAICS Code 311511 — Fluid Milk Manufacturing (illustrative examples, including bottling/packaging). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=311511&year=2017&details=311511
4. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 Economic Census — First Look (release information and schedule). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/data/tables/2022/first-look.html
5. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 NAICS Code 112120 — Dairy Cattle and Milk Production. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=112120&year=2022&details=112120
6. U.S. Census Bureau. Economic Census — Product Line Codes and NAPCS (guidance and code lists). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/technical-documentation/methodology/product-line-codes.html
7. U.S. Census Bureau. 2022 Economic Census — Data Tables (sector summaries, including Manufacturing 31–33). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/data/tables/2022.html