NAICS 325212

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for classifying business establishments to collect, analyze, and publish data on the U.S. economy. Developed under the Office of Management and Budget in cooperation with Canada and Mexico, NAICS replaced the SIC system in 1997; the current statistical vintage in use is 2022. ¹
NAICS 325212 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing synthetic rubber (elastomers). Processing natural, synthetic, or reclaimed rubber into intermediate or final products is classified in 3262, and rubber adhesives belong in 325520. Within the NAICS hierarchy, it sits in Industry Group 32521 (Resin and Synthetic Rubber Manufacturing). ²

What this NAICS covers

• Manufacturing of synthetic rubber (elastomers) as a primary product. ²
• Establishments whose principal output is synthetic rubber, not downstream rubber goods. ²
• Classification determined by the production process (synthetic rubber making), regardless of brand or end-market. ²
• Activities grouped under Industry Group 32521 within Chemical Manufacturing. ²
• U.S. national industry within Manufacturing (31–33). ¹

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	325211	Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing
NAICS	3262	Rubber Product Manufacturing
PSC	9320	Rubber Fabricated Materials (includes natural and synthetic rubber fabricated forms)
PSC	9440	Miscellaneous Crude Agricultural and Forestry Products (includes crude rubber)

Industry hierarchy and boundaries

• Placement: Sector 31–33 Manufacturing → Subsector 325 Chemical Manufacturing → Industry Group 32521 → U.S. Industry 325212. ¹
• Exclusions: Rubber product processing (e.g., tires, hose, gaskets) is classified in 3262; rubber adhesives are in 325520. ²

SBA small business size standard

For NAICS 325212, the SBA small business size standard is 1,000 employees (effective March 17, 2023). ³

Frequently asked questions

• How does NAICS 325212 differ from 325211?
  NAICS 325212 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing synthetic rubber. NAICS 325211 covers resins, plastics materials, and nonvulcanizable thermoplastic elastomers, not synthetic rubber production. ²

• Are tires classified under NAICS 325212?
  No. New tire manufacturing is 326211 and retreading is 326212 within Rubber Product Manufacturing. NAICS 325212 applies to producing synthetic rubber, not finished rubber goods like tires. ²

• What PSCs commonly align to synthetic rubber supply buys?
  Material buys often use PSC 9320 (rubber fabricated materials), while crude rubber may appear under 9440. Consult the PSC Manual for authoritative definitions and scope notes. ⁴

• What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 325212?
  The size standard is 1,000 employees for NAICS 325212, per SBA’s Table of Small Business Size Standards effective March 17, 2023. ³

• Did NAICS 2022 change the scope of NAICS 325212?
  The Census Bureau documents broad 2022 revisions and provides bridge tools, but it does not enumerate a specific change to 325212 in public summaries. Not specified by official sources ⁵.

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 325212 page
• U.S. Census Bureau: NAICS overview and 2022 NAICS Search. ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau: Manufacturing (31–33) and NAICS 325212 definition via the 2022 NAICS Search. ²
• SBA Table of Small Business Size Standards (effective March 17, 2023). ³
• Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (current edition). ⁴

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS: Introduction and Search. https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — 2022 NAICS Search result for 325212 (Manufacturing). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=325212&year=2022
3. 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
4. General Services Administration — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (April 2025). https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf
5. U.S. Census Bureau — The Census Bureau’s Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (summary and timeline). https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html