Analysis
NAICS 424690 is the 2022 national industry for other chemical and allied products merchant wholesalers, part of 42469 (Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers). Census lists 83 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 8,845 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 135,062 people at an average annual payroll of $97,332 per employee (83rd percentile of national industries). 48% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Census lists 7 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 4239, 424210, 424910 and 424950. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include acids merchant wholesalers, adhesives and sealants merchant wholesalers, alcohol, industrial, merchant wholesalers and alkalies merchant wholesalers, among 83 in all.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 7% and employment rose 5%. 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.
For example, merchant wholesale distribution of ammunition are classified in 4239 (Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers) instead.
Official definition
This industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of chemicals and allied products (except agricultural and medicinal chemicals, paints and varnishes, fireworks, and plastics materials and basic forms and shapes).
Illustrative Examples:
Acids merchant wholesalers Industrial chemicals merchant wholesalers Automotive chemicals (except lubricating oils and greases) merchant wholesalers Industrial salts merchant wholesalers Dyestuffs merchant wholesalers Rosins merchant wholesalers Explosives (except ammunition and fireworks) merchant wholesalers Turpentine merchant wholesalers
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Merchant wholesale distribution of ammunition | 4239 Miscellaneous Durable Goods Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of biological and medical products; botanical drugs and herbs; and pharmaceutical products intended for internal and external consumption in such forms as ampoules, tablets, capsules, vials, ointments, powders, solutions, and suspensions | 424210 Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of farm supplies, such as animal feeds, fertilizers, agricultural chemicals, pesticides, seeds, and plant bulbs | 424910 Farm Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of paints, varnishes, and similar coatings, pigments, wallpaper, and supplies, such as paintbrushes and rollers | 424950 Paint, Varnish, and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of lubricating oils and greases | 424720 Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (except Bulk Stations and Terminals) |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of fireworks | 423920 Toy and Hobby Goods and Supplies Merchant Wholesalers |
| Merchant wholesale distribution of plastics materials and resins, and unsupported plastics film, sheet, sheeting, rod, tube, and other basic forms and shapes | 424610 Plastics Materials and Basic Forms and Shapes Merchant Wholesalers |
Index entries (83)
- Acids merchant wholesalers
- Adhesives and sealants merchant wholesalers
- Alcohol, industrial, merchant wholesalers
- Alkalies merchant wholesalers
- Alternative fuels, not blended with petroleum, merchant wholesalers
- Ammonia (except fertilizer material) merchant wholesalers
- Antifreeze merchant wholesalers
- Aromatic chemicals merchant wholesalers
- Automotive chemicals (except lubricating greases, lubrication oils) merchant wholesalers
- Biodiesel, not blended with petroleum, merchant wholesalers
- Biofuels, not blended with petroleum, merchant wholesalers
- Bleaches merchant wholesalers
- Cannabidiol (CBD oil) merchant wholesalers
- Carbon black merchant wholesalers
- Caulking materials merchant wholesalers
- Caustic soda merchant wholesalers
- Chemical additives (e.g., concrete, food, fuel, oil) merchant wholesalers
- Chemical gases merchant wholesalers
- Chemicals (except agriculture) (e.g., automotive, household, industrial, photographic) merchant wholesalers
- Chlorine merchant wholesalers
- Cleaning compounds and preparations merchant wholesalers
- Coal tar distillates and resins merchant wholesalers
- Coal tar products, primary and intermediate, merchant wholesalers
- Compressed gases (except LP gas) merchant wholesalers
- Concrete additives merchant wholesalers
- Cyclic crudes and intermediates merchant wholesalers
- Deodorants (except personal) merchant wholesalers
- Detergents merchant wholesalers
- Detonators (except ammunition) merchant wholesalers
- Disinfectants (except agricultural) merchant wholesalers
- Drilling muds merchant wholesalers
- Dry ice merchant wholesalers
- Drycleaning solvents and chemicals merchant wholesalers
- Dyes, industrial, merchant wholesalers
- Dyestuffs merchant wholesalers
- Dynamite merchant wholesalers
- Electronic cigarette vapor liquids merchant wholesalers
- Essential oils merchant wholesalers
- Ethanol, not blended with petroleum, merchant wholesalers
- Explosives (except ammunition, fireworks) merchant wholesalers