Analysis
NAICS 32121 is the 2022 NAICS industry for veneer, plywood, and engineered wood product manufacturing, part of 3212 (Veneer, Plywood, and Engineered Wood Product Manufacturing). Census lists 54 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 1,456 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 84,946 people at an average annual payroll of $62,548 per employee (38th percentile of national industries). 14% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which points to larger operations.
Across its national industries Census lists 54 index entries; typical ones are hardwood plywood composites manufacturing, panels, softwood plywood, manufacturing, arches, glue laminated or pre-engineered wood, manufacturing and board, bagasse, manufacturing.
Its goods appear in 187 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 4412 (plywood, veneered panels and similar laminated wood), 4411 (fiberboard of wood or other ligneous materials, whether or…) and 4408 (sheets for veneering (including those obtained by slicing…). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
It splits into 4 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 321211 (Hardwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing) with 201.
Its more detailed codes are 321211 Hardwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing (201 establishments), 321212 Softwood Veneer and Plywood Manufacturing (80 establishments), 321215 Engineered Wood Member Manufacturing and 321219 Reconstituted Wood Product Manufacturing (192 establishments).
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in one or more of the following: (1) manufacturing veneer and/or plywood; (2) manufacturing engineered wood members; and (3) manufacturing reconstituted wood products. This industry includes manufacturing plywood from veneer made in the same establishment or from veneer made in other establishments, and manufacturing plywood faced with nonwood materials, such as plastics or metal.
Illustrative Examples:
Fabricated structural wood members manufacturing Laminated structural wood members manufacturing Medium density fiberboard (MDF) manufacturing Oriented strandboard (OSB) manufacturing Particleboard manufacturing Plywood manufacturing Reconstituted wood sheets and boards manufacturing Roof trusses, wood, manufacturing Veneer mills Waferboard manufacturing
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Manufacturing veneer and further processing that veneer into wood containers or wood container parts in the same establishment | 32192 Wood Container and Pallet Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing prefabricated wood buildings or wood sections and panels for buildings | 32199 All Other Wood Product Manufacturing |
| Manufacturing solid wood structural members, such as dimension lumber and timber from logs or bolts in sawmills | 32111 Sawmills and Wood Preservation |
Index entries (54)
- Hardwood plywood composites manufacturing
- Panels, softwood plywood, manufacturing
- Arches, glue laminated or pre-engineered wood, manufacturing
- Board, bagasse, manufacturing