This Chapter has been extracted from the ONS Explanatory Notes and provides a more detailed explanation of possible activities that could fall within the SIC Codes related to the Chapter.
This division includes wholesale trade on own account or on a fee or contract basis (commission trade) related to domestic wholesale trade as well as international wholesale trade (import/export).This division excludes:
- wholesale of motor vehicles, caravans and motorcycles, see 45.1, 45.4
- wholesale of motor vehicle accessories, see 45.31, 45.40
- renting and leasing of goods, see division 77
- packing of solid goods and bottling of liquid or gaseous goods, including blending and filtering for third
parties, see 82.92
46.1 Wholesale on a fee or contract basis
This group includes:- activities of commission agents, commodity brokers and all other wholesalers who trade on behalf and
on the account of others
- activities of those involved in bringing sellers and buyers together or undertaking commercial
transactions on behalf of a principal, including on the internet.
This group also includes:
- activities of wholesale auctioneering houses, including Internet wholesale auctions
46.11 Agents involved in the sale of agricultural raw materials, live animals, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods
This class excludes:- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.12 Agents involved in the sale of fuels, ores, metals and industrial chemicals
This class includes agents involved in the sale of:• fuels, ores, metals and industrial chemicals, including fertilisers
This class excludes:
- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.13 Agents involved in the sale of timber and building materials
This class excludes:- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.14 Agents involved in the sale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft
This class includes agents involved in the sale of:• machinery, including office machinery and computers, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft
This class excludes:
- activities of commission agents for motor vehicles, see 45.1
- auctions of motor vehicles, see 45.1
- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.15 Agents involved in the sale of furniture, household goods, hardware and ironmongery
This class excludes:- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.16 Agents involved in the sale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods
This class excludes:- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.17 Agents involved in the sale of food, beverages and tobacco
This class excludes:- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.18 Agents specialised in the sale of other particular products
This class excludes:- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
- activities of insurance agents, see 66.22
- activities of real estate agents, see 68.31
46.19 Agents involved in the sale of a variety of goods
This class excludes:- wholesale trade in own name, see 46.2 to 46.9
- retail sale by non-store commission agents, see 47.99
46.2 Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals
46.21 Wholesale of grain, unmanufactured tobacco, seeds and animal feeds
This class includes:- wholesale of grains and seeds
- wholesale of oleaginous fruits
- wholesale of unmanufactured tobacco
- wholesale of animal feeds and agricultural raw material n.e.c.
This class excludes:
- wholesale of textile fibres, see 46.76
46.22 Wholesale of flowers and plants
This class includes:- wholesale of flowers, plants and bulbs
46.23 Wholesale of live animals
46.24 Wholesale of hides, skins and leather
46.3 Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
46.31 Wholesale of fruit and vegetables
This class includes:- wholesale of fresh fruit and vegetables
- wholesale of preserved fruit and vegetables
46.32 Wholesale of meat and meat products
46.33 Wholesale of dairy products, eggs and edible oils and fats
This class includes:- wholesale of dairy products
- wholesale of eggs and egg products
- wholesale of edible oils and fats of animal or vegetable origin
46.34 Wholesale of alcoholic and other beverages
46.34/1 Wholesale of fruit and vegetable juices, mineral waters and soft drinks
This subclass includes:
- wholesale of non-alcoholic beverages
46.34/2 Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages
This subclass includes:
- wholesale of alcoholic beverages
This subclass also includes:
- buying of wine in bulk and bottling without transformation
This subclass excludes:
- blending of wine or distilled spirits, see 11.01, 11.02
46.35 Wholesale of tobacco products
46.36 Wholesale of sugar and chocolate and sugar confectionery
This class includes:- wholesale of sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery
- wholesale of bakery products
46.37 Wholesale of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices
46.38 Wholesale of other food, including fish, crustaceans and molluscs
This class also includes:- wholesale of feed for pet animals
46.39 Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
46.4 Wholesale of household goods
This group includes the wholesale of household goods, including textiles.46.41 Wholesale of textiles
This class includes:- wholesale of yarn
- wholesale of fabrics
- wholesale of household linen etc.
- wholesale of haberdashery: needles, sewing thread etc.
This class excludes:
- wholesale of textile fibres, see 46.76
46.42 Wholesale of clothing and footwear
This class includes:- wholesale of clothing, including sports clothes
- wholesale of clothing accessories such as gloves, ties and braces
- wholesale of footwear
- wholesale of fur articles
- wholesale of umbrellas
This class excludes:
- wholesale of jewellery, see 46.48
- wholesale of leather goods, see 46.49
- wholesale of special sports equipment footwear such as ski boots, see 46.49
46.43 Wholesale of electrical household appliances
46.43/1 Wholesale of gramophone records, audio tapes, compact discs and video tapes and of the equipment on which these are played
This subclass includes:
- wholesale of recorded audio and video tapes, CDs, DVDs and the equipment on which these are played
This subclass excludes:
- wholesale of blank audio and video tapes, CDs, DVDs, see 46.52
46.43/9 Wholesale of radio and television goods and of electrical household appliances (other than of gramophone records, audio tapes, compact discs and video tapes and the equipment on which these are played) n.e.c.
This subclass includes:
- wholesale of electrical household appliances
- wholesale of radio and television equipment
- wholesale of photographic and optical goods
- wholesale of electrical heating appliances
This subclass excludes:
- wholesale of sewing machines, see 46.64
46.44 Wholesale of china and glassware and cleaning materials
This class includes:- wholesale of china and glassware
- wholesale of cleaning materials
46.45 Wholesale of perfume and cosmetics
This class includes:- wholesale of perfumeries, cosmetics and soaps
46.46 Wholesale of pharmaceutical goods
This class includes:- wholesale of pharmaceutical and medical goods
46.47 Wholesale of furniture, carpets and lighting equipment
This class includes:- wholesale of household furniture
- wholesale of carpets
- wholesale of lighting equipment
This class excludes:
- wholesale of office furniture, see 46.65
46.48 Wholesale of watches and jewellery
46.49 Wholesale of other household goods
46.49/1 Wholesale of musical instruments
46.49/9 Wholesale of household goods (other than musical instruments) n.e.c.
This subclass includes:
- wholesale of woodenware, wickerwork and corkware etc.
- wholesale of bicycles and their parts and accessories
- wholesale of stationery, books, magazines and newspapers
- wholesale of leather goods and travel accessories
- wholesale of games and toys
- wholesale of sports goods, including special sports footwear such as ski boots
46.5 Wholesale of information and communication equipment
This group includes the wholesale of information and communications technology (ICT) equipment, i.e.
computers, telecommunications equipment and parts.
46.51 Wholesale of computers, computer peripheral equipment and software
This class includes:
- wholesale of computers and computer peripheral equipment
- wholesale of software
This class excludes:
- wholesale of electronic parts, see 46.52
- wholesale of office machinery and equipment, (except computers and peripheral equipment), see 46.66
46.52 Wholesale of electronic and telecommunications equipment and parts
This class includes:
- wholesale of electronic valves and tubes
- wholesale of semiconductor devices
- wholesale of microchips and integrated circuits
- wholesale of printed circuits
- wholesale of blank audio and video tapes and diskettes, magnetic and optical disks (CDs, DVDs)
- wholesale of telephone and communications equipment
This class excludes:
- wholesale of recorded audio and video tapes, CDs, DVDs, see 46.43
- wholesale of computers and computer peripheral equipment, see 46.51
46.6 Wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies
This group includes the wholesale of specialised machinery, equipment and supplies for all kinds of
industries and general purpose machinery.
46.61 Wholesale of agricultural machinery, equipment and supplies
This class includes:
- wholesale of agricultural machinery and equipment:
• ploughs, manure spreaders, seeders
• harvesters
• threshers
• milking machines
• poultry-keeping machines, bee-keeping machines
• tractors used in agriculture and forestry
This class also includes:
- lawn mowers however operated
46.62 Wholesale of machine tools
This class includes:
- wholesale of machine tools of any type and for any material
This class also includes:
- wholesale of computer-controlled machine tools
46.63 Wholesale of mining, construction and civil engineering machinery
46.64 Wholesale of machinery for the textile industry and of sewing and knitting machines
This class also includes:
- wholesale of computer-controlled machinery for the textile industry and of computer-controlled sewing
and knitting machines
46.65 Wholesale of office furniture
This class includes:
- wholesale trade services related to:
• goods classified in 31.01 (Manufacture of office and shop furniture)
46.66 Wholesale of other office machinery and equipment
This class includes:
- wholesale of office machinery and equipment, except computers and computer peripheral equipment
This class excludes:
- wholesale of computers and peripheral equipment, see 46.51
- wholesale of electronic parts and telephone and communications equipment, see 46.52
46.69 Wholesale of other machinery and equipment
This class includes:
- wholesale of transport equipment except motor vehicles, motorcycles and bicycles
- wholesale of production-line robots
- wholesale of wires and switches and other installation equipment for industrial use
- wholesale of other electrical material such as electrical motors, transformers
- wholesale of other machinery n.e.c. for use in industry (except mining, construction, civil engineering
and textile industry), trade and navigation and other services
This class also includes:
- wholesale of measuring instruments and equipment
This class excludes:
- wholesale of motor vehicles, trailers and caravans, see 45.1
- wholesale of motor vehicle parts, see 45.31
- wholesale of motorcycles, see 45.40
- wholesale of bicycles, see 46.49
46.7 Other specialised wholesale
This group includes other specialised wholesale activities not classified in other groups of this division.
This includes the wholesale of intermediate products, except agricultural, typically not for household use.
46.71 Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products
This class includes:
- wholesale of fuels, greases, lubricants, oils such as:
• charcoal, coal, coke, fuel wood, naphtha
• crude petroleum, crude oil, diesel fuel, gasoline, fuel oil, heating oil, kerosene
• liquefied petroleum gases, butane and propane gas
• lubricating oils and greases, refined petroleum products
46.71/1 Wholesale of petroleum and petroleum products
This subclass includes:
- wholesale of automotive fuels
46.71/9 Wholesale of fuels and related products (other than petroleum and petroleum products)
This subclass includes:
- wholesale of greases, lubricants, oils, etc.
46.72 Wholesale of metals and metal ores
This class includes:
- wholesale of ferrous and non-ferrous metal ores
- wholesale of ferrous and non-ferrous metals in primary forms
- wholesale of ferrous and non-ferrous semi-finished metal products n.e.c.
- wholesale of gold and other precious metals
This class excludes:
- wholesale of metal scrap, see 46.77
46.73 Wholesale of wood, construction materials and sanitary equipment
This class includes:
- wholesale of wood in the rough
- wholesale of products of primary processing of wood
- wholesale of paint and varnish
- wholesale of construction materials:
• sand, gravel
- wholesale of wallpaper and floor coverings
- wholesale of flat glass
- wholesale of sanitary equipment:
• baths, washbasins, toilets and other sanitary porcelain
- wholesale of prefabricated buildings
46.74 Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies
This class includes:
- wholesale of hardware and locks
- wholesale of fittings and fixtures
- wholesale of hot water heaters
- wholesale of sanitary installation equipment:
• tubes, pipes, fittings, taps, T-pieces, connections, rubber pipes etc.
- wholesale of tools such as hammers, saws, screwdrivers and other hand tools
46.75 Wholesale of chemical products
This class includes:
- wholesale of industrial chemicals:
• aniline, printing ink, essential oils, industrial gases, chemical glues, colouring matter, synthetic resin,
methanol, paraffin, scents and flavourings, soda, industrial salt, acids and sulphurs, starch derivates etc.
- wholesale of fertilisers and agrochemical products
46.76 Wholesale of other intermediate products
This class includes:
- wholesale of plastic materials in primary forms
- wholesale of rubber
- wholesale of textile fibres etc.
- wholesale of paper in bulk
- wholesale of precious stones
46.77 Wholesale of waste and scrap
This class includes:
- wholesale of metal and non-metal waste and scrap and materials for recycling, including collecting,
sorting, separating, stripping of used goods such as cars in order to obtain reusable parts, packing and
repacking, storage and delivery, but without a real transformation process. Additionally, the purchased
and sold waste has a remaining value.
This class also includes:
- dismantling of automobiles, computers, televisions and other equipment to obtain and re-sell usable
parts
This class excludes:
- collection of household and industrial waste, see 38.1
- treatment of waste, not for a further use in an industrial manufacturing process, but with the aim of
disposal, see 38.2
- processing of waste and scrap and other articles into secondary raw material when a real transformation
process is required (the resulting secondary raw material is fit for direct use in an industrial manufacturing
process, but is not a final product), see 38.3
- dismantling of automobiles, computers, televisions and other equipment for materials recovery, see
38.31
- ship-breaking, see 38.31
- shredding of cars by means of a mechanical process, see 38.32
- retail sale of second-hand goods, see 47.79
46.9 Non-specialised wholesale trade
46.90 Non-specialised wholesale trade
This class includes:
- wholesale of a variety of goods without any particular specialisation
For all queries related to this Chapter or any other aspect of SIC Codes, please contact the Office of National Statistics on 01329 444970 or email classifications.helpdesk@ons.gov.uk.