Analysis
NAICS 3256 is the 2022 industry group for soap, cleaning compound, and toilet preparation manufacturing, part of 325 (Chemical Manufacturing). Census lists 114 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 2,502 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 106,155 people at an average annual payroll of $70,767 per employee (53rd percentile of national industries). 38% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Across its national industries Census lists 114 index entries; typical ones are bar soaps manufacturing, air fresheners manufacturing, assistants, textile and leather finishing, manufacturing and after-shave preparations manufacturing.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 9% and employment rose 4%. 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.
Its goods appear in 90 statistical lines of the US tariff schedule, mostly under headings 3402 (organic surface-active agents (other than soap)…), 3403 (lubricating preparations (including cutting-oil…) and 3307 (pre-shave, shaving or after-shave preparations, personal…). That link is how import data is matched to domestic producers, for example in trade-remedy cases.
It splits into 2 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 32561 (Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing) with 1,406.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in (1) manufacturing and packaging soaps, detergents, polishes, surface active agents, textile and leather finishing agents, and other sanitation goods or (2) preparing, blending, compounding, and packaging toilet preparations.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (114)
- Bar soaps manufacturing
- Air fresheners manufacturing
- Assistants, textile and leather finishing, manufacturing
- After-shave preparations manufacturing