NAICS 325992

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for grouping business establishments so agencies can collect, analyze, and publish statistics about the U.S. economy. Established under the Office of Management and Budget in 1997 to replace SIC, NAICS was jointly developed by the U.S. ECPC, Statistics Canada, and Mexico’s INEGI to ensure cross-country comparability; the current economic census uses the 2022 vintage. ¹

NAICS 325992 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing sensitized photographic film, sensitized paper or cloth, photosensitive plates, electrostatic copy toners and toner cartridges, and photographic chemicals. Official cross-references clarify that unsensitized photographic paper stock falls in Paper Manufacturing, while inkjet cartridges are classified in other manufacturing industries. ²

What this NAICS covers

• Sensitized photographic film manufacturing (e.g., films prepared with light-sensitive coatings). ²
• Sensitized photographic paper and sensitized cloth production. ²
• Photosensitive plates for printing and related applications. ²
• Electrostatic copy toner and laser-printer toner manufacturing. ²
• Toner cartridge manufacturing for photocopiers and similar devices. ²
• Prepared photographic chemicals for image development and processing. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Inclusions and exclusions (official cross-references)

• Includes: sensitized film, sensitized paper/cloth, photosensitive plates, toner, toner cartridges, and photographic chemicals in 325992. ²
• Excludes: photographic paper stock (unsensitized) and photographic paper mats/mounts, which are in Paper Manufacturing (Subsector 322), not 325992. ²
• Excludes: inkjet cartridges, which are assigned to 334119; toners and toner cartridges remain in 325992. ²
• Excludes: cameras, photocopiers, and other photographic/photocopying equipment, which are classified in 333315, not 325992. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What products fall under NAICS 325992?

  • The industry includes sensitized photographic film, sensitized paper/cloth, photosensitive plates, electrostatic copy and laser-printer toners, toner cartridges, and prepared photographic chemicals. It covers inputs and materials used in imaging and printing processes rather than finished imaging devices. ²

• Are toner cartridges included in NAICS 325992?

  • Yes. Official guidance places toners and toner cartridges for copiers, laser printers, and similar electrostatic printing devices in this industry. Inkjet cartridges, by contrast, are classified under 334119. ²

• How is unsensitized photographic paper classified?

  • Unsensitized photographic paper stock and related paper mats/mounts are classified within Paper Manufacturing (Subsector 322), not in 325992. This delineation distinguishes base paper products from sensitized imaging media. ²

• Which PSC codes commonly align with 325992 outputs?

  • For federal purchasing, PSC 6750 covers photographic supplies such as sensitized paper, unprocessed film, and special photographic chemicals. PSC 6810 covers individual chemicals frequently used in preparation or processing. ³

• What is NAICS and which vintage applies today?

  • NAICS is the OMB-sponsored system used by federal statistical agencies; it replaced SIC in 1997 and is jointly maintained with Canada and Mexico. The 2022 NAICS vintage underpins the latest Economic Census publications and the current official code set. ¹

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 325992 overview
• U.S. Census Bureau — Understanding NAICS. ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 definition for 325992 and cross-references. ²
• Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (April 2022). ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. Understanding NAICS. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/guidance/understanding-naics.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Search — 325992 Photographic Film, Paper, Plate, and Chemical Manufacturing. https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=325992&year=2022&details=325992
3. Acquisition.gov. Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual