NAICS 321211

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying establishments to support collection, analysis, and publication of statistics on the U.S. economy. Developed by the Economic Classification Policy Committee with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s INEGI, NAICS replaced SIC when it was adopted by the Office of Management and Budget in 1997; the current vintage is 2022. ¹
U.S. industry 321211 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing hardwood veneer and/or hardwood plywood. Federal statistical programs and procurement market analyses use this definition to delineate activity within the broader Wood Product Manufacturing subsector. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Production of hardwood veneer sheets from logs or bolts. ²
• Manufacturing of hardwood plywood panels, including use of purchased veneer. ²
• Laminating hardwood veneers into plywood panels. ²
• Finishing or facing hardwood plywood with nonwood materials (e.g., plastics or metal) when performed by the plywood manufacturer. ²
• Operating veneer mills focused on hardwood species. ²
• Integrated establishments making veneer and assembling it into hardwood plywood in the same facility. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	321212	Softwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing
NAICS	321219	Reconstituted Wood Product Manufacturing
NAICS	321920	Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing
PSC	5530	Plywood and Veneer
PSC	5510	Lumber and Related Basic Wood Materials
PSC	5520	Millwork

Key exclusions and boundaries

• Softwood veneer or softwood plywood belongs in NAICS 321212. ²
• Reconstituted wood sheets and boards (e.g., MDF, OSB, particleboard) fall under NAICS 321219, not 321211. ²
• Veneer manufactured and then further made into wood containers or container parts in the same plant is classified in NAICS 321920. ²

Small business size standard

SBA’s small business size standard for NAICS 321211 is 600 employees (effective March 17, 2023). ⁴

Data vintage and federal reporting

Census economic programs are transitioning from 2017 to 2022 NAICS; dissemination on a 2022 NAICS basis began with 2022 Economic Census releases in 2024, with full adoption planned by the end of calendar year 2027 (exceptions noted by Census). ³

Frequently asked questions

• How is NAICS 321211 defined?
  It comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing hardwood veneer and/or hardwood plywood. The scope includes making plywood from veneer produced in-house or purchased and may include facing with nonwood materials. ²

• How does NAICS 321211 differ from NAICS 321212 and 321219?
  NAICS 321211 covers hardwood products; NAICS 321212 covers softwood veneer/plywood; NAICS 321219 covers reconstituted wood boards (e.g., MDF, OSB). ²

• What is the SBA small business size standard for NAICS 321211?
  The current size standard is 600 employees for NAICS 321211, as listed in SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards effective March 17, 2023. ⁴

• Which PSCs are typically used for hardwood veneer/plywood products?
  Product buys for plywood and veneer commonly use PSC 5530; related materials may use PSC 5510 (lumber) or PSC 5520 (millwork), per the GSA PSC Manual. ⁵

• Is NAICS 321211 eligible under SBA’s Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Program?
  Eligibility is determined by SBA’s current list of NAICS codes for the WOSB/EDWOSB programs; confirm the latest status directly on SBA’s official list. Not specified by official sources. ⁶

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 321211
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 definitions for Sector 31–33, including 321211. ²
• U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and adoption). ³
• SBA — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). ⁴
• GSA — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (FY 2025 edition). ⁵

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses: NAICS development and OMB adoption in 1997. https://www.census.gov/about/history/historical-censuses-and-surveys/census-programs-surveys/economic/classifying-businesses.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 Sector 31–33 definitions (includes 321211 cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and program adoption). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). https://www.sba.gov/sites/default/files/2023-06/Table%20of%20Size%20Standards_Effective%20March%2017%2C%202023%20%282%29.pdf
5. GSA Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual, FY 2025. https://origin-www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
6. U.S. Small Business Administration — Eligible NAICS for the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contracting Program. https://www.sba.gov/document/support-eligible-naics-women-owned-small-business-federal-contracting-program