15 September 2021
Business activity codes: the ultimate guide for exporters
The International Standard of Industrial Classification (ISIC) has been in use since 1948. You must use it in your export process, but with so many business activity codes, how can you be sure you are using the correct one?
This article will focus on business classification codes. By the end of this page, you should have a good reference for when you need to apply codes for your business activities and why each one is relevant.
What are ISIC and SITC?
ISIC is a method by which all countries can refer to how they produce goods and what is being produced. This allows people from very different areas worldwide to have a shared language to understand what is being created by a company. SITC codes are similar but used instead when it comes to importing and exporting goods.
Using these codes, you can report on data such as financial information related to transfers between businesses. The industry can then analyze its trades, and people can make decisions for improving their commerce area.
Business activity codes
The following is an overview of the most common ISIC classifications, along with a short description of each. It includes the three-digit subcategories, except where a three-digit subcategory does not exist. In those cases, it will list the four-digit subcategories:
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing
011 Growing of non-perennial crops
012 Growing of perennial crops
013 0130 Plant propagation
014 Animal production
015 Mixed farming
016 Support activities to agriculture and post-harvest crop activities
017 Hunting, trapping, and related service activities
021 Silviculture and other forestry activities
022 Logging
023 Gathering of non-wood forest products
024 Support services to forestry
031 Fishing
032 Aquaculture
Mining and quarrying
051 Mining of hard coal
052 Mining of lignite
061 Extraction of crude petroleum
062 Extraction of natural gas
071 Mining of iron ores
072 Mining of non-ferrous metal ores
081 Quarrying of stone, sand, and clay
089 Mining and quarrying n.e.c.
091 Support activities for petroleum and natural gas extraction
099 Support activities for other mining and quarrying
Manufacturing
101 Processing and preserving of meat
102 Processing and preserving of fish, crustaceans, and mollusks
103 Processing and preserving of fruit and vegetables
104 Manufacture of vegetable and animal oils and fats
105 Manufacture of dairy products
106 Manufacture of grain mill products, starches, and starch products
107 Manufacture of other food products
108 Manufacture of prepared animal feeds
1101 Distilling, rectifying, and blending of spirits
1102 Manufacture of wines
1103 Manufacture of malt liquors and malt
1104 Manufacture of soft drinks; production of mineral waters and other bottled waters
120 Manufacture of tobacco products
131 Spinning, weaving, and finishing of textiles
139 Manufacture of other textiles
141 Manufacture of wearing apparel, except fur apparel
142 Manufacture of articles of fur
143 Manufacture of knitted and crocheted apparel
151 Tanning and dressing of leather; manufacture of luggage, handbags, saddlery, and harness; dressing and dyeing of fur
152 Manufacture of footwear
161 Sawmilling and planning of wood
162 Manufacture of products of wood, cork, straw, and plaiting materials
1701 Manufacture of pulp, paper, and paperboard
1702 Manufacture of corrugated paper and paperboard and containers of paper and paperboard
1709 Manufacture of other articles of paper and paperboard
181 Printing and service activities related to printing
182 Reproduction of recorded media
191 Manufacture of coke oven products
192 Manufacture of refined petroleum products
201 Manufacture of basic chemicals, fertilizers and nitrogen compounds, plastics, and synthetic rubber in primary forms
202 Manufacture of other chemical products
203 Manufacture of man-made fibers
210 Manufacture of pharmaceuticals, medicinal chemical, and botanical products
221 Manufacture of rubber products
222 Manufacture of plastics products
231 Manufacture of glass and glass products
239 Manufacture of non-metallic mineral products n.e.c.
241 Manufacture of basic iron and steel
242 Manufacture of basic precious and other non-ferrous metals
243 Casting of metals
251 Manufacture of structural metal products, tanks, reservoirs, and steam generators
252 Manufacture of weapons and ammunition
259 Manufacture of other fabricated metal products; metalworking service activities
261 Manufacture of electronic components and boards
262 Manufacture of computers and peripheral equipment
263 Manufacture of communication equipment
264 Manufacture of consumer electronics
265 Manufacture of measuring, testing, navigating, and control equipment; watches and clocks
266 Manufacture of irradiation, electromedical and electrotherapeutic equipment
267 Manufacture of optical instruments and photographic equipment
268 Manufacture of magnetic and optical media
271 Manufacture of electric motors, generators, transformers, and electricity distribution, and control apparatus
272 Manufacture of batteries and accumulators
273 Manufacture of wiring and wiring devices
274 Manufacture of electric lighting equipment
275 Manufacture of domestic appliances
279 Manufacture of other electrical equipment
281 Manufacture of general-purpose machinery
282 Manufacture of special-purpose machinery
291 Manufacture of motor vehicles
292 Manufacture of bodies (coachwork) for motor vehicles; manufacture of trailers and semi-trailers
293 Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles
301 Building of ships and boats
302 Manufacture of railway locomotives and rolling stock
303 Manufacture of air and spacecraft and related machinery
304 Manufacture of military fighting vehicles
309 Manufacture of transport equipment n.e.c.
310 3100 Manufacture of furniture
321 Manufacture of jewelry, bijouterie, and related articles
322 Manufacture of musical instruments
323 Manufacture of sports goods
324 Manufacture of games and toys
325 Manufacture of medical and dental devices and supplies
329 Other manufacturing n.e.c.
331 Repair of fabricated metal products, machinery, and equipment
332 Installation of industrial machinery and equipment
Electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply
351 Electric power generation, transmission, and distribution
352 Manufacture of gas; distribution of gaseous fuels through mains
353 Steam and air conditioning supply
Water supply; sewerage, waste management, and remediation activities
360 Water collection, treatment, and supply
370 Sewerage
381 Waste collection
382 Waste treatment and disposal
383 Materials recovery
390 Remediation activities and other waste management services
Construction
410 Construction of buildings
421 Construction of roads and railways
422 Construction of utility projects
429 Construction of other civil engineering projects
431 Demolition and site preparation
432 Electrical, plumbing, and other construction installation activities
433 Building completion and finishing
439 Other specialized construction activities
Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles
451 Sale of motor vehicles
452 Maintenance and repair of motor vehicles
453 Sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories
454 Sale, maintenance, and repair of motorcycles and related parts and accessories
461 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis
462 Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals
463 Wholesale of food, beverages, and tobacco
464 Wholesale of household goods
465 Wholesale of machinery, equipment, and supplies
466 Other specialized wholesale
469 Non-specialized wholesale trade
471 Retail sales in non-specialized stores
472 Retail sale of food, beverages, and tobacco in specialized stores
473 Retail sale of automotive fuel in specialized stores
474 Retail sale of information and communications equipment in specialized stores
475 Retail sale of other household equipment in specialized stores
476 Retail sale of cultural and recreation goods in specialized stores
477 Retail sale of other goods in specialized stores
478 Retail sales via stalls and markets
479 Retail trade not in stores, stalls, or markets
Transportation and storage
491 Transport via railways
492 Other land transport
493 Transport via pipeline
501 Sea and coastal water transport
502 Inland water transport
511 Passenger air transport
512 Freight air transport
521 Warehousing and storage
522 Support activities for transportation
531 Postal activities
532 Courier activities
Accommodation and food service activities
551 Short term accommodation activities
552 Camping grounds, recreational vehicle parks, and trailer parks
559 Other accommodation
561 Restaurants and mobile food service activities
562 Event catering and other food service activities
563 Beverage serving activities
Information and communication
581 Publishing of books, periodicals, and other publishing activities
582 Software publishing
592 Sound recording and music publishing activities
601 Radio broadcasting
602 Television programming and broadcasting activities
611 Wired telecommunications activities
612 Wireless telecommunications activities
613 Satellite telecommunications activities
619 Other telecommunications activities
6201 Computer programming activities
6202 Computer consultancy and computer facilities management activities
6209 Other information technology and computer service activities
631 Data processing, hosting, and related activities; web portals
639 Other information service activities
Financial and insurance activities
641 Monetary intermediation
642 Activities of holding companies
643 Trusts, funds, and similar financial entities
649 Other financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding activities
651 Insurance
652 Reinsurance
653 Pension funding
661 Activities auxiliary to financial service activities, except insurance and pension funding
662 Activities auxiliary to insurance and pension funding
663 Fund management activities
Real estate activities
681 Real estate activities with own or leased property
682 Real estate activities on a fee or contract basis
Professional, scientific, and technical Activities
691 Legal activities
692 Accounting, bookkeeping, and auditing activities; tax consultancy
701 Activities of head offices
702 Management consultancy activities
711 Architectural and engineering activities and related technical consultancy
712 Technical testing and analysis
721 Research and experimental development on natural sciences and engineering
722 Research and experimental development on social sciences and humanities
731 Advertising
732 Market research and public opinion polling
741 Specialized design activities
742 Photographic activities
749 Other professional, scientific, and technical activities n.e.c.
750 Veterinary activities
Administrative and support service activities
771 Renting and leasing of motor vehicles
772 Renting and leasing of personal and household goods
773 Renting and leasing of other machinery, equipment, and tangible goods
774 Leasing of intellectual property and similar products, except copyrighted works
781 Activities of employment placement agencies
782 Temporary employment agency activities
783 Other human resources provision
791 Travel agency and tour operator activities
799 Other reservation services and related activities
801 Private security activities
802 Security systems service activities
803 Investigation activities
811 Combined facilities support activities
812 Cleaning activities
813 Landscape care and maintenance service activities
821 Office administrative and support activities
822 Activities of call centers
823 Organization of conventions and trade shows
829 Business support service activities n.e.c.
Public administration and defense; compulsory social security
841 Administration of the State and the economic and social policy of the community
842 Provision of services to the community as a whole
843 Compulsory social security activities
Education
851 Pre-primary and primary education
852 Secondary education
853 Higher education
854 Other education
855 Educational support activities
Human health and social work activities
861 Hospital activities
862 Medical and dental practice activities
869 Other human health activities
871 Residential nursing care facilities
872 Residential care activities for mental retardation, mental health, and substance abuse
873 Residential care activities for the elderly and disabled
879 Other residential care activities
881 Social work activities without accommodation for the elderly and disabled
889 Other social work activities without accommodation
Arts, entertainment, and recreation
900 Creative, arts, and entertainment activities
9101 Library and archives activities
9102 Museums activities and operation of historical sites and buildings
9103 Botanical and zoological gardens and nature reserves activities
920 Gambling and betting activities
931 Sports activities
932 Other amusement and recreation activities
Other service activities
941 Activities of business, employers, and professional membership organizations
942 9420 Activities of trade unions
949 Activities of other membership organizations
951 Repair of computers and communication equipment
952 Repair of personal and household goods
9601 Washing and (dry-) cleaning of textile and fur products
9602 Hairdressing and other beauty treatment
9603 Funeral and related activities
9609 Other personal service activities n.e.c.
Activities of Households as employers; undifferentiated goods- and services-producing activities of households for own use
970 Activities of households as employers of domestic personnel
981 Undifferentiated goods-producing activities of private households for own use
982 Undifferentiated service-producing activities of private households for own use
Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies
990 Activities of extraterritorial organizations and bodies
Another classification of business
There are other methods of business classification available. Kompass is one such company that offers detailed and precise ways of defining your products. In addition, it has over 55,000 product and service codes that you can use when exporting to one of the 54 million companies in its comprehensive database.
Kompass makes use of over sixty advanced filters, tags, and other methods of sorting its classifications. This gives you unprecedented control and simplicity in how you move forward with your trade.
What next?
You should now have a comprehensive understanding of the ins and outs of business activity codes. This overview of the available codes should assist you in moving forward in business, but you may still have queries.
If you have questions about the classification of business codes you use, you should feel comfortable contacting us. Our specialists are on hand to help you, no matter if you use ISIC, SITC, or Kompass’s classification methods. So get in contact to find out more.
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