NAICS 332439

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal standard for grouping business establishments to produce statistics about the U.S. economy. Developed collaboratively by the United States, Canada, and Mexico and overseen in the U.S. by OMB, NAICS replaced the SIC in 1997 and is updated on a five-year cycle, most recently in 2022. ¹

NAICS 332439 covers establishments primarily engaged in manufacturing light-gauge metal containers other than cans. Official examples include light-gauge metal bins, drums, garbage cans, lunch boxes, mailboxes, tool boxes, vats, metal air cargo containers, barrels, and vacuum bottles and jugs; related boundary notes direct cans to NAICS 332431, heavy-gauge tanks/containers to NAICS 332420, foil containers to NAICS 332999, and reconditioning of barrels/drums to NAICS 811310. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 332439 overview
• G2X — NAICS 332431 Metal Can Manufacturing
• G2X — NAICS 332420 Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing

What this NAICS covers

• Manufacturing of light-gauge metal containers other than cans (e.g., bins, vats, drums, barrels). ²
• Fabrication of metal air cargo containers used for shipping and logistics. ²
• Production of light-gauge metal garbage cans and similar refuse receptacles. ²
• Manufacturing of light-gauge metal mailboxes. ²
• Production of metal tool boxes and lunch boxes. ²
• Manufacturing of vacuum bottles and jugs with metal construction. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	332431	Metal Can Manufacturing
NAICS	332420	Metal Tank (Heavy Gauge) Manufacturing
PSC	8110	Drums and Cans
PSC	8145	Specialized Shipping and Storage Containers

Note: PSC descriptors are taken from GSA’s Product and Service Code Manual (latest edition). ⁴

Scope notes and official cross-references

• Metal cans, lids, and ends are excluded; classify under NAICS 332431. ²
• Heavy-gauge metal tanks/containers are excluded; classify under NAICS 332420. ²
• Foil containers are excluded; classify under NAICS 332999. ²
• Reconditioning of barrels and drums is not manufacturing; classify under NAICS 811310. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What products are typical under NAICS 332439?
  Typical products include light-gauge metal bins, vats, drums, barrels, garbage cans, mailboxes, tool/lunch boxes, metal air cargo containers, and vacuum bottles/jugs. These examples are listed in the official 2022 NAICS industry description. ²

• How does NAICS 332439 differ from NAICS 332431 and NAICS 332420?
  NAICS 332439 covers light-gauge metal containers other than cans. Metal cans go to 332431, while heavy-gauge tanks/containers are classified in 332420 per the official cross-references. ²

• Are foil containers or reconditioning services included in NAICS 332439?
  No. Foil containers are classified in NAICS 332999, and reconditioning of barrels/drums is classified in NAICS 811310, not in 332439. ²

• When did federal economic programs begin publishing data on the 2022 NAICS basis?
  Census began publishing 2022 Economic Census “First Look” data in January 2024 and expects all economic programs to adopt 2022 NAICS by the end of 2027, with two exceptions transitioning later. ³

• Is there an official NAICS-to-PSC crosswalk for NAICS 332439?
  Not specified by official sources. Agencies typically select PSCs that best match the predominant product or service in the requirement rather than by a formal NAICS-to-PSC mapping. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 332439 overview
• U.S. Census: NAICS codes and structure (2022 Economic Census guidance). ¹
• U.S. Census: 2022 NAICS industry descriptions for Manufacturing (including NAICS 332439). ²
• U.S. Census: Implementation timeline for 2022 NAICS. ³

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — Economic Census: NAICS Codes & Understanding Industry Classification Systems (includes definition and 2022 vintage context) https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/year/2022/guidance/understanding-naics.html
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 industry descriptions, Manufacturing (Sector 31–33), including 332439 Other Metal Container Manufacturing https://www.census.gov/naics/resources/archives/sect31-33.html
3. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS (timeline and program adoption) https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. GSA Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual (April 2025 edition) https://www.acquisition.gov/sites/default/files/manual/PSC%20Manual%20April%202025.pdf