NAICS 325199

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for classifying business establishments to support statistical analysis of the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced SIC in 1997 and is updated every five years; the current version is 2022. ¹

NAICS 325199 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing basic organic chemicals, excluding aromatic petrochemicals, industrial gases, synthetic organic dyes and pigments, gum and wood chemicals, cyclic crudes and intermediates, and ethyl alcohol. Illustrative examples include fatty acids, plasticizers, silicone (except resins), enzyme proteins for non‑pharmaceutical use, organo‑inorganic compounds, and certain “not elsewhere specified” organic compounds. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 325199 overview
• G2X — NAICS 325110 Petrochemical Manufacturing
• G2X — NAICS 325193 Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing

What this NAICS covers

• Basic organic chemical manufacturing not otherwise classified within petrochemicals, industrial gases, dyes/pigments, gum and wood chemicals, cyclic crudes/intermediates, or ethyl alcohol. ²
• Fatty acids production (e.g., oleic, stearic, margaric). ²
• Plasticizers manufacturing as basic synthetic chemicals. ²
• Silicone manufacturing, except silicone resins. ²
• Enzyme proteins manufactured as basic chemicals for non‑pharmaceutical uses. ²
• Organo‑inorganic compound manufacturing. ²
• Organic compounds “not elsewhere specified,” including certain calcium or carbon organic compounds. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	325110	Petrochemical Manufacturing; aromatic petrochemicals are excluded from 325199. 2
NAICS	325132	Synthetic Organic Dye and Pigment Manufacturing; dyes/pigments are excluded from 325199. 2
NAICS	325191	Gum and Wood Chemical Manufacturing; excluded from 325199. 2
NAICS	325193	Ethyl Alcohol Manufacturing; ethyl alcohol is excluded from 325199. 2

Scope notes and exclusions (selected)

• Aromatic petrochemicals produced from refined petroleum or natural gas are classified in 325110; those made by refining crude petroleum are in 324110. ²
• Industrial gases belong in 325120, not 325199. ²
• Synthetic organic dyes and pigments are classified in 325132. ²
• Gum and wood chemicals fall under 325191; cyclic crudes and intermediates are in 325192. ²
• Natural food colorings are in 31193 or 311942, while natural nonfood organic colorings are in 325199. ²
• Natural glycerin manufacturing is in 325611; synthetic glycerin is in 325199. ²

Position in the NAICS hierarchy

325199 sits within Sector Manufacturing, Subsector 325 Chemical Manufacturing, Industry Group 3251 Basic Chemical Manufacturing, and Industry 32519 Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What kinds of products are included in NAICS 325199?

  • Basic organic chemicals such as fatty acids, plasticizers, silicone (except resins), enzyme proteins for non‑pharmaceutical applications, organo‑inorganic compounds, and various organic compounds not elsewhere specified. Exclusions include petrochemicals, industrial gases, dyes/pigments, gum and wood chemicals, cyclic crudes/intermediates, and ethyl alcohol. See also on G2X: NAICS 325199. ²

• What activities are specifically excluded from 325199?

  • Examples include aromatic petrochemicals (325110), industrial gases (325120), synthetic organic dyes and pigments (325132), gum and wood chemicals (325191), cyclic crudes/intermediates (325192), and ethyl alcohol (325193). ²

• Where do natural food versus nonfood organic colorings fall?

  • Natural food colorings are classified in 31193 or 311942. Natural organic colorings for nonfood uses fall under 325199. ²

• How does 325199 relate to pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing?

  • Non‑pharmaceutical enzyme proteins as basic chemicals are included in 325199. Pharmaceutical and medicine manufacturing is covered in the 3254 group. ²

• Did the definition of 325199 change in the 2022 NAICS update?

  • The Census Bureau notes minor revisions across Manufacturing in 2022. Detailed code‑level change files provide specifics. Changes specific to 325199 are not identified in public summaries. Not specified by official sources ³.

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 325199 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — Official 2022 NAICS definition and examples for 325199. ²
• Census reference: Implementation of 2022 NAICS and transition timeline. ³
• Census background on NAICS development and 1997 OMB adoption. ¹

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 — 2022 NAICS: 325199 Other Basic Organic Chemical Manufacturing (official definition, examples, cross-references). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=325199&year=2022&details=325199
3. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and materials). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html