NAICS 326112 Quarterly Industry Report
Unsupported Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 326112Sector: 32Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 326112 delivers business owners, acquirers, and financial advisors data-driven valuation insights for the plastics packaging film sector, drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5] and FRED economic data[8]. Additional data is drawn from Bureau of Labor Statistics[9].. The report aggregates transaction multiples, financial benchmarks, and market trends specific to NAICS 326112 establishments, supporting buy-sell agreements, succession planning, SBA-financed acquisitions, and litigation support engagements.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the unsupported plastics packaging film and sheet manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing (NAICS 326112) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in converting plastics resins into plastics packaging film and packaging sheet, including laminated film and sheet. Operations produce blown and cast films, stretch wrap, shrink film, cling wrap, and multilayer barrier films used across food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and industrial packaging applications. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[5], roughly 315 establishments operate in this classification, employing over 34,000 workers with total annual payroll exceeding $2 billion.
Manufacturing processes span blown film extrusion using polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon resins; cast film extrusion producing optically clear films; coextrusion of multilayer barrier structures combining different polymer layers; adhesive and extrusion lamination bonding dissimilar materials; and metallization or coating for moisture and oxygen barrier performance. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] identifies core production roles including extruder operators managing film gauge and optical properties, laminator operators bonding film layers, slitter-rewinder operators preparing finished rolls to customer width specifications, and quality technicians testing seal strength, barrier properties, and optical clarity.
Per the SBA Office of Advocacy[7], resin cost volatility remains the dominant profitability driver, with polyethylene pricing directly tied to ethylene and natural gas feedstock markets. Demand for high-barrier packaging films supporting extended shelf life in food applications continues to drive capital investment in coextrusion technology, while sustainability pressures push converters toward mono-material recyclable film structures and post-consumer recycled content incorporation.
What's Included in This Industry
- Valuation multiples benchmarked to plastics packaging film converters
- Revenue and EBITDA trends for domestic packaging film manufacturing
- SBA lending data and financing terms for NAICS 326112 businesses
- Comparable transaction data from recent film converter acquisitions
- Industry risk factors including resin pricing, barrier technology shifts, and sustainability mandates
- Workforce composition and labor cost benchmarks for film extrusion operations
- Regional market analysis covering major packaging film production hubs
- Capital expenditure benchmarks for coextrusion lines and lamination equipment
- Customer concentration analysis across food, beverage, and industrial segments
- Owner compensation and discretionary earnings benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing | 326 |
| Industry Group | Plastics Product Manufacturing | 3261 |
| NAICS Industry | Plastics Packaging Materials and Unlaminated Film and Sheet Manufacturing | 32611 |
| National Industry | Plastics Packaging Film and Sheet (including Laminated) Manufacturing | 326112 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 326111 | Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing | Plastics bag and pouch manufacturers that purchase packaging film rolls and convert them through forming, sealing, and printing into finished bag products |
| 326113 | Unlaminated Plastics Film and Sheet (except Packaging) Manufacturing | Unlaminated nonpackaging film producers classified separately when manufacturing plastics film and sheet for non-packaging applications like construction and agriculture |
| 326130 | Laminated Plastics Plate, Sheet (except Packaging), and Shape Manufacturing | Laminated plastics plate, sheet, and shape manufacturers producing rigid laminated products distinguished from the flexible packaging films in this classification |
| 325211 | Plastics Material and Resin Manufacturing | Plastics material and resin producers manufacturing polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon resins consumed as primary feedstock in packaging film extrusion |
| 322220 | Paper Bag and Coated and Treated Paper Manufacturing | Paper bag and coated paper manufacturers producing laminated paper-foil-plastic combinations classified separately from all-plastics packaging film production |
| 326160 | Plastics Bottle Manufacturing | Plastics bottle manufacturing operations producing rigid packaging containers that compete with flexible film pouches in food and beverage packaging markets |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 10.6% | 43 |
| 2 | Illinois | 8.7% | 35 |
| 3 | Wisconsin | 8.2% | 33 |
| 4 | Ohio | 6.2% | 25 |
| 5 | Texas | 5.5% | 22 |
| 6 | New Jersey | 5.0% | 20 |
| 7 | Florida | 5.0% | 20 |
| 8 | New York | 4.2% | 17 |
| 9 | Georgia | 4.2% | 17 |
| 10 | Indiana | 3.7% | 15 |
% Of Establishments
0%
11%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
56
Total SBA Loans
$78.3M
Total Loan Volume
$1.4M
Average Loan Size
8 yrs
Average Loan Term
9.86%
Average Interest Rate
2,832
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Plastics packaging film producers qualify as small businesses under the SBA size standards[10] for NAICS 326112, which set the threshold at 1,000 employees. The SBA 7(a) loan program[11] supports acquisitions of existing packaging film operations and working capital for resin inventory purchases, while the CDC/504 loan program[12] provides long-term fixed-rate financing for coextrusion lines, lamination equipment, metallizers, and plant expansions. Lenders assess resin procurement agreements, customer contract duration, and barrier technology capabilities when underwriting film manufacturing loans.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Bank of Edison | 8 | $40.0M | $5.0M |
| 2 | Fulton Bank, National Association | 16 | $23.8M | $1.5M |
| 3 | KeyBank National Association | 8 | $8.0M | $1.0M |
| 4 | TD Bank, National Association | 16 | $5.8M | $360K |
| 5 | Bank of America, National Association | 8 | $800K | $100K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 326112?
NAICS 326112 covers establishments that convert plastics resins into packaging film and sheet, including laminated products. This includes producers of stretch wrap, shrink film, cling wrap, multilayer barrier films, and laminated packaging materials. Per the U.S. Census Bureau[13], the classification specifically addresses packaging-grade film production, distinguishing it from nonpackaging film operations classified under 326113.
How is the plastics packaging film industry structured?
The industry divides into commodity film producers running high-volume polyethylene blown film lines for stretch wrap and shrink applications, and specialty converters producing coextruded multilayer barrier films for food preservation and pharmaceutical packaging. Commodity producers compete on throughput and resin efficiency. Specialty converters differentiate through barrier engineering, lamination capabilities, and ability to produce films meeting specific oxygen and moisture transmission requirements.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 326112?
The SBA sets the small business threshold for plastics packaging film manufacturers at 1,000 employees, among the highest in the plastics converting sector. This employee count is measured as the 24-month average of full-time and part-time workers across all company locations. Per the SBA size standards table[10], this higher threshold reflects the capital-intensive nature of film extrusion and lamination operations.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 326112?
Code 326111 covers bag and pouch converting, the primary downstream customer for packaging films. Code 326113 captures nonpackaging film production sharing similar extrusion technology. Smaller 326130 addresses laminated plastics plate and shapes for non-flexible applications. Code 322220 covers paper-based laminated packaging materials. Per the Census Bureau[13], the packaging versus non-packaging distinction drives the classification boundary between 326112 and 326113.
What industries interact most with packaging film manufacturers?
Food and beverage companies represent the largest demand driver, specifying barrier requirements for product freshness and shelf life. Bag converters (326111) purchase film rolls as their primary input material. Resin producers (325211) supply polyethylene and polypropylene feedstock. According to FRED economic data[8], employment in the combined plastics packaging materials subsector reflects broader manufacturing and consumer demand cycles.
What specific activities fall under NAICS 326112?
Covered activities include blown and cast film extrusion from plastics resins, coextrusion of multilayer barrier films, adhesive and extrusion lamination of film layers, metallization and coating for barrier properties, slitting and rewinding film rolls to customer specifications, and stretch wrap and shrink film production. Printing on the film is included when performed by the same establishment that produces the film.
Are plastics packaging film manufacturers eligible for SBA loans?
Yes, film manufacturers with fewer than 1,000 employees qualify for SBA financing. The SBA 7(a) program[11] covers business acquisitions, equipment financing, and working capital needs, while the CDC/504 program[12] finances long-term capital investments in coextrusion lines, laminators, and plant expansions with favorable fixed-rate terms.
Where are plastics packaging film operations concentrated in the U.S.?
Film manufacturing clusters near petrochemical feedstock sources and major consumer market regions. Texas and Louisiana benefit from Gulf Coast resin production proximity. The Midwest, Southeast, and Mid-Atlantic host concentrations of converters serving food processors and consumer goods companies. Per the Census Bureau[5], states with strong food processing industries generally support more packaging film manufacturing establishments.
Sources & References
Government datasets and editorial sources used in this report.
- [1]U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages bls.gov
- [2]U.S. Census Bureau, Economic Census census.gov
- [3]U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns census.gov
- [4]U.S. Small Business Administration, SBA 7(a) Loan Program Data data.sba.gov
- [5]U.S. Census Bureau data.census.gov
- [6]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [7]SBA Office of Advocacy advocacy.sba.gov
- [8]FRED economic data fred.stlouisfed.org
- [9]Bureau of Labor Statistics bls.gov
- [10]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [11]SBA 7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [12]CDC/504 loan program sba.gov
- [13]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
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