NAICS 327110 Quarterly Industry Report
Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing
Comprehensive industry research for valuation professionals, business owners, buyers, and lenders
NAICS Code: 327110Sector: 32Updated: Q1 2026
About This Report
This Fair Market Value industry report for NAICS 327110 delivers business owners, acquirers, and financial advisors data-driven valuation insights for the pottery, ceramics, and plumbing fixture sector, drawing on data from the U.S. Census Bureau[5] and the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6]. The report aggregates transaction multiples, financial benchmarks, and market trends specific to NAICS 327110 establishments, supporting buy-sell agreements, succession planning, SBA-financed acquisitions, and litigation support engagements.
Industry Snapshot
Key metrics for the pottery, ceramics, and plumbing fixture manufacturing industry.
Industry Definition & Overview
Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing (NAICS 327110) encompasses establishments primarily engaged in shaping, molding, glazing, and firing pottery, ceramics, plumbing fixtures, and electrical supplies made entirely or partly of clay or other ceramic materials. Products include vitreous china toilets and lavatories, porcelain bathroom accessories, ceramic tableware and dinnerware, stoneware, ceramic permanent magnets, porcelain electrical insulators, and decorative ceramic items. According to the U.S. Census Bureau[5], roughly 336 companies operate within this classification, employing over 13,100 workers.
Manufacturing processes include slip casting of liquid clay into plaster molds, jiggering and jolleying for flatware and hollow ware production, isostatic pressing for technical ceramics, ram pressing for tile and electrical components, spray glazing and dip glazing, and kiln firing at temperatures exceeding 2,000 degrees Fahrenheit. The Bureau of Labor Statistics[6] identifies production roles including mold makers, slip casters, kiln operators managing firing schedules and atmosphere control, glazing technicians, quality inspectors testing dimensional accuracy and glaze adhesion, and mold maintenance workers.
Per the SBA Office of Advocacy[7], vitreous china plumbing fixtures represent the largest revenue segment, driven by residential and commercial construction and bathroom renovation activity. Artisan and craft pottery operations form a distinct subsegment, typically small studios producing handmade tableware and decorative items. Technical ceramic producers serve electronics, automotive, and industrial markets with precision-engineered components.
What's Included in This Industry
- Valuation multiples benchmarked to pottery and ceramic manufacturing operations
- Revenue and EBITDA trends for domestic ceramics and plumbing fixture production
- SBA lending data and financing terms for NAICS 327110 businesses
- Comparable transaction data from recent ceramics company acquisitions
- Industry risk factors including energy costs, import competition, and construction cycles
- Workforce composition and labor cost benchmarks for ceramics operations
- Regional market analysis covering major pottery and ceramics production centers
- Capital expenditure benchmarks for kilns, molds, and glazing systems
- End-market analysis across plumbing fixtures, tableware, and technical ceramics
- Owner compensation and discretionary earnings benchmarks
NAICS Classification Hierarchy
| Level | Description | Code |
|---|---|---|
| Subsector | Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | 327 |
| Industry Group | Clay Product and Refractory Manufacturing | 3271 |
| NAICS Industry | Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing | 32711 |
| National Industry | Pottery, Ceramics, and Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing | 327110 |
Related NAICS Codes
| Code | Description | Relationship |
|---|---|---|
| 327120 | Clay Building Material and Refractories Manufacturing | Clay building material and refractories manufacturers sharing clay processing, molding, and kiln firing technology but producing structural brick and refractory products rather than pottery |
| 326191 | Plastics Plumbing Fixture Manufacturing | Plastics plumbing fixture manufacturers producing competing bathtubs, showers, and fixtures from plastics and fiberglass rather than vitreous china and porcelain materials |
| 332913 | Plumbing Fixture Fitting and Trim Manufacturing | Plumbing fixture fitting and trim manufacturers producing faucets, valves, and trim components assembled with vitreous china fixtures into complete bathroom installations |
| 327215 | Glass Product Manufacturing Made of Purchased Glass | Glass product manufacturers producing competing tableware, decorative items, and bathroom accessories from glass rather than clay and ceramic materials |
| 327211 | Flat Glass Manufacturing | Flat glass manufacturers sharing high-temperature furnace technology and mineral raw material supply chains while producing flat glass rather than shaped ceramic products |
| 327999 | All Other Miscellaneous Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing | Miscellaneous nonmetallic mineral product manufacturers producing competing items from stone, mineral wool, and other non-clay mineral materials |
Geographic Concentration
Top states by share of national establishments.
| # | State | % Est. | Total Est. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | 13.7% | 76 |
| 2 | Pennsylvania | 6.1% | 34 |
| 3 | North Carolina | 6.0% | 33 |
| 4 | Texas | 5.0% | 28 |
| 5 | Ohio | 4.7% | 26 |
| 6 | Florida | 3.8% | 21 |
| 7 | New York | 3.8% | 21 |
| 8 | Colorado | 3.6% | 20 |
| 9 | Oregon | 3.1% | 17 |
| 10 | Georgia | 2.9% | 16 |
% Of Establishments
0%
14%
Source: County Business Patterns, U.S. Census Bureau[3]
SBA Lending Summary
120
Total SBA Loans
$14.4M
Total Loan Volume
$120K
Average Loan Size
11 yrs
Average Loan Term
11.23%
Average Interest Rate
552
Jobs Supported
Source: SBA 7(a) Program Data, U.S. Small Business Administration — FY 2025[4]
Key Insight: Pottery and ceramics manufacturers qualify as small businesses under the SBA size standards[8] for NAICS 327110, which set the threshold at 1,000 employees. The SBA 7(a) loan program[9] supports acquisitions of existing ceramics operations and working capital for raw material purchases, while the CDC/504 loan program[10] provides long-term fixed-rate financing for tunnel kilns, shuttle kilns, casting lines, and facility expansions. Lenders evaluate product mix, kiln capacity use, and construction market exposure when underwriting ceramics manufacturing loans.
Top SBA Lenders
| # | Lender | Loans | Volume | Avg Loan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wilmington Savings Fund Society FSB | 8 | $4.0M | $500K |
| 2 | Wells Fargo Bank National Association | 8 | $2.8M | $350K |
| 3 | First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company | 8 | $1.6M | $200K |
| 4 | Accion Opportunity Fund Community Development | 8 | $1.4M | $172K |
| 5 | Hanover Community Bank | 8 | $1.1M | $140K |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about this industry.
What types of businesses are classified under NAICS 327110?
NAICS 327110 covers manufacturers shaping, molding, glazing, and firing clay and ceramic products including vitreous china toilets and lavatories, porcelain bathroom accessories, ceramic tableware and dinnerware, stoneware, ceramic permanent magnets, and porcelain electrical insulators. Per the U.S. Census Bureau[11], the classification encompasses both industrial ceramics producers and artisan pottery operations.
How is the pottery and ceramics industry structured?
The industry segments into plumbing fixture producers manufacturing vitreous china toilets and lavatories for construction markets, tableware producers making ceramic dinnerware and cookware, technical ceramics manufacturers producing precision components for electronics and industrial applications, and artisan pottery studios creating handcrafted items. Plumbing fixture operations require large capital investment in tunnel kilns and automated casting lines. Artisan operations compete through design, craftsmanship, and local market presence.
What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 327110?
The SBA classifies a pottery and ceramics manufacturer as a small business if it employs fewer than 1,000 workers, measured as the 24-month average of full-time and part-time employees. Per the SBA size standards table[8], this relatively high threshold reflects the capital-intensive nature of plumbing fixture and technical ceramics manufacturing.
What NAICS codes are most closely related to 327110?
Code 327120 covers clay building materials sharing clay processing technology. Code 326191 addresses competing plastics plumbing fixtures. Many 332913 covers plumbing fittings paired with ceramic fixtures. Per the Census Bureau[11], the distinction between structural clay products (327120) and pottery, ceramics, and fixtures (327110) is the primary classification boundary.
What industries interact most with pottery and ceramics manufacturers?
Plumbing contractors (238220) install vitreous china fixtures. Building supply distributors sell ceramic products to contractors and consumers. Residential and commercial builders drive new construction fixture demand. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics[6], housing starts and bathroom remodeling spending directly influence vitreous china plumbing fixture production volumes.
What specific activities fall under NAICS 327110?
Covered activities include slip casting of vitreous china plumbing fixtures, jiggering and pressing of ceramic tableware, spray and dip glazing, tunnel and shuttle kiln firing, isostatic pressing of technical ceramic components, porcelain electrical insulator production, ceramic permanent magnet manufacturing, and artisan pottery wheel-throwing and hand-building operations.
Are pottery and ceramics manufacturers eligible for SBA loans?
Where are pottery and ceramics operations concentrated in the U.S.?
Plumbing fixture production concentrates near construction markets and clay sources. Texas, the Southeast, and the Midwest host major vitreous china plants. Artisan pottery clusters in areas with cultural tourism economies. Technical ceramics producers locate near electronics and automotive manufacturing hubs. According to the Census Bureau[5], 336 companies reflect a mix of industrial-scale and artisan-scale operations across the country.
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]SBA size standards sba.gov
- [9]SBA 7(a) loan program sba.gov
- [10]CDC/504 loan program sba.gov
- [11]U.S. Census Bureau census.gov
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