Used as an intermediate in the synthesis of dyes and pigments, particularly for producing azo dyes that exhibit good light and wash fastness. It also serves in the manufacture of certain agricultural chemicals, including herbicides and plant growth regulators, due to its ability to act as a building block in more complex aromatic compounds. Additionally, it finds use in the pharmaceutical industry for developing active pharmaceutical ingredients where nitroaromatic and chlorinated structures are required. Its methoxy and nitro functional groups allow for selective reactions, making it valuable in multi-step organic syntheses.