NAICS 424720

Overview

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) is the federal statistical standard for classifying business establishments, created under the Office of Management and Budget, adopted in 1997 to replace SIC, and maintained jointly by the U.S., Canada, and Mexico to support comparable economic statistics. The current classification vintage is 2022. ¹
NAICS 424720 is the national industry for establishments primarily engaged in wholesaling petroleum and petroleum products other than from bulk liquid storage facilities. Federal statistical programs use this code to delineate non-bulk petroleum wholesalers from bulk terminals and warehouse/storage activities in Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade). ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 424720 overview
• G2X — NAICS 424710 Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals
• G2X — PSC 9130 Liquid Propellants and Fuels, Petroleum Base

What this NAICS covers

• Gasoline wholesaling not conducted from bulk liquid storage facilities. ²
• Fuel oil wholesaling (excluding bulk stations and terminals). ²
• Bottled liquefied petroleum (LP) gas wholesaling. ²
• Lubricating oil and grease wholesaling, excluding bulk terminal operations. ²
• Crude petroleum wholesaling when not from bulk stations or terminals. Not specified by official sources. ²
• Aviation fuel sold on a wholesale basis to airports or air carriers (classified to this industry). ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Key boundaries and exclusions

• Bulk liquid storage and terminal-based wholesale activity is classified to NAICS 424710, not 424720. ²
• Bulk petroleum storage and warehousing without wholesaling is classified to NAICS 493190 (Other Warehousing and Storage). ²
• LP gas from bulk stations/terminals is excluded from 424720; industrial gases (except LP) fall under NAICS 424690. ²
• Wholesaling fuel at airports is classified in this industry (e.g., aviation gasoline and jet fuel). ²

Frequently asked questions

• How does NAICS 424720 define the scope of activity?
  This industry covers establishments primarily engaged in merchant wholesaling of petroleum and petroleum products other than from bulk liquid storage facilities. Illustrative examples include gasoline, diesel and fuel oil, bottled LP gas, kerosene, and lubricating oils and greases. The defining factor is the absence of bulk terminal operations. ²

• What is the difference between NAICS 424720 and NAICS 424710?
  NAICS 424720 excludes wholesaling conducted from bulk liquid storage facilities; those activities belong in NAICS 424710 (Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals). The classification hinges on whether the wholesaling occurs from bulk terminals versus non-bulk distribution channels. ²

• Does NAICS 424720 include crude oil wholesalers?
  The official description lists examples such as aviation gasoline, gasoline, diesel, kerosene, LP gas, and lubricating oils/greases, but it does not explicitly address crude petroleum. Classification depends on whether activity is from bulk facilities; consult agency guidance for edge cases. Not specified by official sources. ²

• Are airport fueling suppliers classified here?
  Yes. Merchant wholesalers of aviation fuels (e.g., aviation gasoline and jet fuel) are included in this industry. The key determinant is the wholesaling function for aviation fuels rather than retailing or operating airport facilities, which are outside Wholesale Trade. ²

• Are gas stations or home heating fuel dealers covered by NAICS 424720?
  No. Retail fuel activities—such as gasoline stations or direct-selling fuel dealers to households—are classified in Retail Trade, not Wholesale Trade. NAICS 424720 applies to merchant wholesalers, not retail outlets or delivery-focused dealers selling directly to end consumers. ²

Useful resources

• G2X — NAICS 424720
• U.S. Census Bureau: NAICS 2022 homepage (browse current vintage)
• U.S. Census Bureau: NAICS 2022 detailed page for 424720 (link above)
• U.S. Census Bureau: NAICS reference files and 2022 definitions (download hub)
• U.S. Census Bureau: Sector 42 (Wholesale Trade) resources

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022. https://www.census.gov/naics/?year=2022
2. U.S. Census Bureau. NAICS 2022 Definition for 424720: Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=424720&year=2022&details=424720