NAICS 322110

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the production-oriented standard used by U.S. federal statistical agencies to classify business establishments for collecting, analyzing, and publishing economic data. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and adopted in 1997, NAICS was created jointly with Statistics Canada and Mexico’s Instituto Nacional de Estadística y Geografía; the most recent vintage is 2022. ¹

NAICS 322110 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing pulp without manufacturing paper or paperboard. The definition centers on separating cellulose fibers from impurities in wood or other materials (for example, recycled rags, cotton linters, scrap paper, straw). Integrated operations that produce both pulp and paper or paperboard are classified elsewhere. ²

See also on G2X:

• 322110
• 322121
• 322130

What this NAICS covers

• Manufacture of pulp as the primary output, without downstream papermaking or paperboard production. ²
• Fiber separation from wood and other cellulosic feedstocks to produce market pulp. ²
• Use of alternative or recycled inputs such as rags, cotton linters, scrap paper, and straw in pulp production. ²
• Stand-alone pulp operations that sell pulp to other mills rather than converting it to paper or paperboard. ²
• Excludes mills that make both pulp and paper, which are classified under 322121 or 322122. ²
• Excludes mills that make both pulp and paperboard, which are classified under 322130. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	322121	Paper (except Newsprint) Mills
NAICS	322130	Paperboard Mills
PSC	9310	Paper and Paperboard
PSC	8540	Toiletry Paper Products

SBA small business size standard (for NAICS 322110)

The Small Business Administration (SBA) employee-based size standard for 322110 is 1,050 employees. Contracting officers and offerors should consult the current SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards for applicability to specific procurements and to confirm any updates. ³

Where to find official industry statistics

The 2022 Economic Census disseminates statistics by NAICS, including 322110, via data.census.gov tables, downloadable files, and APIs. Data products include geographic area, establishment/firm size, and products by industry (NAPCS-based) where available; see the program hub for release schedules and documentation. ⁴

Frequently asked questions

• What does NAICS 322110 include?

  Establishments primarily making pulp—separating cellulose fibers from wood or other materials—without making paper or paperboard. Inputs can include recycled rags, cotton linters, scrap paper, and straw. Integrated pulp-and-paper or pulp-and-paperboard mills are classified in paper or paperboard mill industries, not in 322110. ²

• How is NAICS 322110 different from paper and paperboard mills?

  If a mill manufactures both pulp and paper, it belongs in paper mills such as 322121 or 322122. If it manufactures both pulp and paperboard, it belongs in 322130. Pulp-only mills remain in 322110. ²

• What PSCs commonly align with pulp-related purchases?

  Agencies often use supply PSCs such as 9310 (Paper and Paperboard) and 8540 (Toiletry Paper Products) when buying downstream paper goods related to pulp-mill outputs. The exact PSC depends on the specific supply and its end use in the acquisition. ⁵

• What is the SBA small business size threshold for NAICS 322110?

  The SBA size standard for 322110 is 1,050 employees. Size standards guide eligibility for small business set-asides and other programs, and they may change over time, so always verify the latest official table before applying them to solicitations. ³

Useful resources

• Official NAICS 2022 Manual — Industry entry for 322110: definition, examples, and cross-references on Census NAICS (search for 322110 and select the 2022 entry). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=322110&year=2022 ²
• SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards — verify the current employee-based threshold for 322110. https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards ³
• 2022 Economic Census — access industry statistics for 322110 via data.census.gov and APIs; see the program hub for data availability, documentation, and tools. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census.html ⁴
• Economic Census “Products by Industry” (NAPCS) — review product lines associated with pulp mills classified under 322110. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census.html ⁴
• PSC selection aid — use the Product and Service Codes tool to identify supply codes commonly paired with pulp outputs (for example, 9310 Paper and Paperboard; 8540 Toiletry Paper Products). https://psctool.us/ ⁵

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) official site. https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 Manual entry for Pulp Mills (NAICS 322110). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=322110&year=2022
3. U.S. Small Business Administration — Table of Small Business Size Standards. https://www.sba.gov/federal-contracting/contracting-guide/size-standards
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census program hub. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census.html
5. Product and Service Codes (PSC) Selection Tool. https://psctool.us/