Analysis
NAICS 4247 is the 2022 industry group for petroleum and petroleum products merchant wholesalers, part of 424 (Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods). Census lists 45 example activities under it in the official index.
County Business Patterns counts 6,213 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 101,780 people at an average annual payroll of $105,894 per employee (87th percentile of national industries). 40% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which is close to the national mix.
Across its national industries Census lists 45 index entries; typical ones are alternative fuels, blended with petroleum, bulk stations… and alternative fuels, blended with petroleum, merchant….
It splits into 2 more detailed codes. The largest by establishments is 42471 (Petroleum Bulk Stations and Terminals) with 3,747.
By establishments it ranks 7th of the 9 codes at this level within Merchant Wholesalers, Nondurable Goods, with 5.1% of them.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments fell 1% and employment rose 2%. 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.
Official definition
This industry group comprises establishments primarily engaged in the merchant wholesale distribution of petroleum and petroleum products, including liquefied petroleum gas.
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Index entries (45)
- Alternative fuels, blended with petroleum, bulk stations and terminals, merchant wholesalers
- Alternative fuels, blended with petroleum, merchant wholesalers (except bulk stations, terminals)