NAICS 325180

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for classifying business establishments, developed jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico and adopted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in 1997 to replace the Standard Industrial Classification system. ¹
NAICS 325180 covers “Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing.” Official descriptions state that this industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing basic inorganic chemicals (except industrial gases and inorganic dyes and pigments) and, in the United States, serves as the parent for multiple national industries that further differentiate specific products and processes. ³
The current NAICS vintage used by Census economic programs is 2022. ²

See also on G2X:

• NAICS 325181 — Alkalies and Chlorine Manufacturing
• NAICS 325188 — All Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing

What this NAICS covers

• Basic inorganic chemicals manufacturing other than industrial gases and inorganic dyes/pigments. ³
• Alkalies and chlorine manufacturing (e.g., sodium hydroxide, chlorine), reflected in U.S. national industry breakouts. ³
• Production of inorganic acids and salts, such as sulfuric acid and hydrochloric acid. ³
• Manufacturing of carbides (e.g., boron, calcium, silicon, tungsten). ³
• Production of sulfides and sulfites. ³
• Manufacturing of potassium inorganic compounds and aluminum compounds not elsewhere specified. ³
• Radioactive isotope manufacturing (categorized under U.S. national industry 325188). ³

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Frequently asked questions

• What activities are included in NAICS 325180?
  Establishments manufacture basic inorganic chemicals, including acids (e.g., sulfuric, hydrochloric), carbides, sulfides/sulfites, certain alkali-related products, potassium salts, and aluminum compounds; industrial gases and inorganic dyes/pigments are excluded. In U.S. data, specific activities are detailed in national industries under 325180. ³

• Which activities are explicitly excluded and where are they classified?
  Industrial gases fall under NAICS 325120, and inorganic dyes/pigments under NAICS 325131. Household bleaches are classified in NAICS 325611; other bleaching compounds are covered within the U.S. national industries associated with 325180. ³

• How is NAICS 325180 used in federal economic data?
  Census economic programs publish industry statistics on a 2022 NAICS basis following their official implementation schedule for the current vintage. ²

• Where can the official 2022 NAICS descriptions be found?
  Census provides 2022 NAICS resources and reference files (including structure and definitions) for download and use across programs. ⁴

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 325180 overview
• Census: The Census Bureau’s implementation of the 2022 NAICS vintage and current-version status. ²
• Census: Industry reference files with 2022 NAICS resources (includes code lists and structure). ⁴
• Census: Manufacturing sector references (includes the 32518 industry group and cross-references). ³
• GSA Acquisition: Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (definitions for PSCs such as 6810). ⁵

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Classifying Businesses: OMB adoption of NAICS (1997) and tri-national development. https://www.census.gov/about/history/bureau-history/census-innovations
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS official site (current vintage: 2022). https://www.census.gov/naics/
3. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Code 325180: Other Basic Inorganic Chemical Manufacturing (definition, cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=325180&year=2022&details=325180
4. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Reference Files and Tools. https://www.census.gov/naics/reference_files_2022.html
5. U.S. General Services Administration — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual