Analysis
NAICS 3132 is the 2022 industry group for fabric mills, part of 313 (Textile Mills). Census lists 130 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 736 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 40,117 people at an average annual payroll of $54,458 per employee (24th percentile of national industries). 25% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which points to larger operations.
By establishments it ranks 1st of the 3 codes at this level within Textile Mills, with 43.2% of them.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 10% and employment fell 12%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
Across its national industries Census lists 130 index entries; typical ones are blankets and bedspreads made in broadwoven fabric mills, apparel webbings manufacturing, air laid nonwoven fabrics manufacturing and bags and bagging fabrics made in warp or weft knitting mills.
Its goods appear in 1348 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 5208 (woven fabrics of cotton, containing 85 percent or more by…), 5407 (woven fabrics of synthetic filament yarn, including woven…) and 5516 (woven fabrics of artificial staple fibers). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in one of the following: (1) weaving broadwoven fabrics and felts (except tire fabrics and rugs); (2) weaving or braiding narrow fabrics; (3) making fabric-covered elastic yarn and thread; (4) manufacturing Schiffli machine embroideries; (5) manufacturing nonwoven fabrics and felts; (6) knitting weft (i.e., circular) and warp (i.e., flat) fabric; (7) knitting and finishing weft and warp fabric; (8) manufacturing lace; or (9) manufacturing, dyeing, and finishing lace and lace goods.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (130)
- Blankets and bedspreads made in broadwoven fabric mills
- Apparel webbings manufacturing
- Air laid nonwoven fabrics manufacturing
- Bags and bagging fabrics made in warp or weft knitting mills