NAICS 311221 - Wet Corn Milling and Starch Manufacturing

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What is NAICS 311221

NAICS code 311221 covers establishments primarily engaged in wet corn milling and starch manufacturing. This sector focuses on the processing of corn and other vegetables through wet milling techniques to produce a variety of products such as corn sweeteners (glucose, dextrose, fructose), corn oil, and starches excluding laundry starch. Businesses operating in this sector utilize advanced chemical and mechanical processes to extract and refine these products for use in food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications. Government agencies contract for these services to secure reliable sources of food ingredients, industrial starches, and related products critical for nutrition programs, medical supplies, and manufacturing needs. The industry also supports national food security and industrial supply chains.

Industry Classification for NAICS 311221

This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in wet milling corn and other vegetables (except to make ethyl alcohol). Examples of products made in these establishments are corn sweeteners, such as glucose, dextrose, and fructose; corn oil; and starches (except laundry).

Breakdown for NAICS 311221

  • Focuses on processing corn and other vegetables via wet milling techniques.
  • Produces corn sweeteners, corn oil, and various starches excluding laundry starch.
  • Supports food manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and industrial applications.
  • Includes establishments that exclude ethyl alcohol production.
  • Subject to industry size standards related to manufacturing output and employee count.

Included Activities for NAICS 311221

  • Wet milling of corn to extract starch, oil, and sweeteners.
  • Manufacturing of glucose, dextrose, and fructose syrups.
  • Refining and packaging corn oil for food and industrial use.
  • Production of starches used in food, pharmaceutical, and industrial products.
  • Quality testing and compliance with food safety regulations.
  • Supplying bulk ingredients to government nutrition and food programs.
  • Research and development of new corn-derived products.
  • Logistics and distribution of manufactured starch and sweetener products.

Business Types for NAICS 311221

  • Wet corn milling plants
  • Food ingredient manufacturers
  • Industrial starch producers
  • Agricultural processing companies
  • Specialty corn product refiners

Subcategories for NAICS 311221

  • Corn dextrin manufacturing
  • Corn gluten feed manufacturing
  • Corn gluten meal manufacturing
  • Corn oil cake and meal manufacturing
  • Corn oil mills
  • Corn oil, crude and refined, made by wet milling corn
  • Corn starch manufacturing
  • Corn sweeteners (e.g., dextrose, fructose, glucose) made by wet milling corn
  • Crude corn oil manufacturing
  • Dextrin made by wet milling corn
  • Gluten feed, flour, and meal, made by wet milling corn
  • Gluten manufacturing
  • HFCS (high fructose corn syrup) manufacturing
  • High fructose corn syrup (HFCS) manufacturing
  • Maltodextrins manufacturing
  • Margarine and other corn oils made by wet milling corn
  • Oil, corn crude and refined, made by wet milling corn
  • Potato starches manufacturing
  • Rice starches manufacturing
  • Root starches manufacturing
  • Starches (except laundry) manufacturing
  • Steepwater concentrate manufacturing
  • Sugar made by wet milling corn
  • Syrup, corn, made by wet milling
  • Table oil, corn, made by wet milling
  • Tapioca manufacturing
  • Vegetable starches manufacturing
  • Wet milling corn and other vegetables

Government Buyers for NAICS 311221

Federal and state government agencies that typically purchase products from the wet corn milling and starch manufacturing sector include the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Defense, and agencies managing nutrition assistance programs. These agencies require corn-derived sweeteners and starches for food service contracts, medical nutrition products, and industrial uses such as adhesives and bioplastics. Government procurement ensures steady supply chains for large-scale feeding programs, emergency food reserves, and operational needs of military and public institutions. Additionally, agencies focused on research and development may contract specialized products for testing and innovation purposes.

Contract Types & Procurement for NAICS 311221

Contracts in this NAICS sector commonly include firm-fixed-price and indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) agreements, reflecting the recurring need for bulk food ingredients and industrial starches. Procurement methods often involve competitive bidding, requests for proposals (RFPs), and simplified acquisitions for smaller orders. Contract values vary widely, from modest supply contracts for local government institutions to multi-million-dollar agreements supporting extensive federal nutrition programs or industrial supply chains. Long-term contracts are typical, given the ongoing demand for food-grade and industrial starch products.

Details for NAICS 311221

Explore the hierarchy and related codes for this industry

NAICS Code Industry Title
31-33 Manufacturing
311 Food Manufacturing
3111 Animal Food Manufacturing
31111 Animal Food Manufacturing
311111 Dog and Cat Food Manufacturing
311119 Other Animal Food Manufacturing
3112 Grain and Oilseed Milling
31121 Flour Milling and Malt Manufacturing
311211 Flour Milling
311212 Rice Milling
311213 Malt Manufacturing
31122 Starch and Vegetable Fats and Oils Manufacturing
311221 Current Wet Corn Milling and Starch Manufacturing
311224 Soybean and Other Oilseed Processing
311225 Fats and Oils Refining and Blending
31123 Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing
311230 Breakfast Cereal Manufacturing
3113 Sugar and Confectionery Product Manufacturing
31131 Sugar Manufacturing
311313 Beet Sugar Manufacturing
311314 Cane Sugar Manufacturing
31134 Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing
311340 Nonchocolate Confectionery Manufacturing
31135 Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing
311351 Chocolate and Confectionery Manufacturing from Cacao Beans
311352 Confectionery Manufacturing from Purchased Chocolate
3114 Fruit and Vegetable Preserving and Specialty Food Manufacturing
31141 Frozen Food Manufacturing
311411 Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing
311412 Frozen Specialty Food Manufacturing
31142 Fruit and Vegetable Canning, Pickling, and Drying
311421 Fruit and Vegetable Canning
311422 Specialty Canning
311423 Dried and Dehydrated Food Manufacturing
3115 Dairy Product Manufacturing
31151 Dairy Product (except Frozen) Manufacturing
311511 Fluid Milk Manufacturing
311512 Creamery Butter Manufacturing
311513 Cheese Manufacturing
311514 Dry, Condensed, and Evaporated Dairy Product Manufacturing
31152 Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing
311520 Ice Cream and Frozen Dessert Manufacturing
3116 Animal Slaughtering and Processing
31161 Animal Slaughtering and Processing
311611 Animal (except Poultry) Slaughtering
311612 Meat Processed from Carcasses
311613 Rendering and Meat Byproduct Processing
311615 Poultry Processing
3117 Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging
31171 Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging
311710 Seafood Product Preparation and Packaging
3118 Bakeries and Tortilla Manufacturing
31181 Bread and Bakery Product Manufacturing
311811 Retail Bakeries
311812 Commercial Bakeries
311813 Frozen Cakes, Pies, and Other Pastries Manufacturing
31182 Cookie, Cracker, and Pasta Manufacturing
311821 Cookie and Cracker Manufacturing
311824 Dry Pasta, Dough, and Flour Mixes Manufacturing from Purchased Flour
31183 Tortilla Manufacturing
311830 Tortilla Manufacturing
3119 Other Food Manufacturing
31191 Snack Food Manufacturing
311911 Roasted Nuts and Peanut Butter Manufacturing
311919 Other Snack Food Manufacturing
31192 Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
311920 Coffee and Tea Manufacturing
31193 Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing
311930 Flavoring Syrup and Concentrate Manufacturing
31194 Seasoning and Dressing Manufacturing
311941 Mayonnaise, Dressing, and Other Prepared Sauce Manufacturing
311942 Spice and Extract Manufacturing
31199 All Other Food Manufacturing
311991 Perishable Prepared Food Manufacturing
311999 All Other Miscellaneous Food Manufacturing
312 Beverage and Tobacco Product Manufacturing
3121 Beverage Manufacturing
31211 Soft Drink and Ice Manufacturing
312111 Soft Drink Manufacturing
312112 Bottled Water Manufacturing
312113 Ice Manufacturing
31212 Breweries
312120 Breweries
31213 Wineries
312130 Wineries
31214 Distilleries
312140 Distilleries
3122 Tobacco Manufacturing
31223 Tobacco Manufacturing
312230 Tobacco Manufacturing
313 Textile Mills
3131 Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills
31311 Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills
313110 Fiber, Yarn, and Thread Mills
3132 Fabric Mills
31321 Broadwoven Fabric Mills
313210 Broadwoven Fabric Mills
31322 Narrow Fabric Mills and Schiffli Machine Embroidery
313220 Narrow Fabric Mills and Schiffli Machine Embroidery
31323 Nonwoven Fabric Mills
313230 Nonwoven Fabric Mills
31324 Knit Fabric Mills
313240 Knit Fabric Mills
3133 Textile and Fabric Finishing and Fabric Coating Mills
31331 Textile and Fabric Finishing Mills
313310 Textile and Fabric Finishing Mills
31332 Fabric Coating Mills
313320 Fabric Coating Mills
314 Textile Product Mills
3141 Textile Furnishings Mills
31411 Carpet and Rug Mills
314110 Carpet and Rug Mills
31412 Curtain and Linen Mills
314120 Curtain and Linen Mills
3149 Other Textile Product Mills
31491 Textile Bag and Canvas Mills
314910 Textile Bag and Canvas Mills
31499 All Other Textile Product Mills
314994 Rope, Cordage, Twine, Tire Cord, and Tire Fabric Mills
314999 All Other Miscellaneous Textile Product Mills
315 Apparel Manufacturing
3151 Apparel Knitting Mills
31512 Apparel Knitting Mills
315120 Apparel Knitting Mills
3152 Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing
31521 Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors
315210 Cut and Sew Apparel Contractors
31525 Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors)
315250 Cut and Sew Apparel Manufacturing (except Contractors)
3159 Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
31599 Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
315990 Apparel Accessories and Other Apparel Manufacturing
316 Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
3161 Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
31611 Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
316110 Leather and Hide Tanning and Finishing
3162 Footwear Manufacturing
31621 Footwear Manufacturing
316210 Footwear Manufacturing
3169 Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
31699 Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing
316990 Other Leather and Allied Product Manufacturing

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