20 - Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products

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 the transformation of organic and inorganic raw materials by a chemical process and the formation of products. It distinguishes the production of basic chemicals that constitute the first industry group from the production of intermediate and end products produced by further processing of basic chemicals that make up the remaining industry classes.

20.1 Manufacture of basic chemicals, fertilisers and nitrogen compounds, plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms 

This group includes the manufacture of basic chemical products, fertilisers and associated nitrogen
compounds, as well as plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms.

20.11 Manufacture of industrial gases

This class includes:
- manufacture of liquefied or compressed inorganic industrial or medical gases:
• elemental gases
• liquid or compressed air
• refrigerant gases
• mixed industrial gases
• inert gases such as carbon dioxide
• isolating gases

This class excludes:
- extraction of methane, ethane, butane or propane, see 06.20
- manufacture of fuel gases such as ethane, butane or propane in a petroleum refinery, see 19.20
- manufacture of gaseous fuels from coal, waste etc., see 35.21


20.12 Manufacture of dyes and pigments 

This class includes:
- manufacture of dyes and pigments from any source in basic form or as concentrate
This class also includes:
- manufacture of products of a kind used as fluorescent brightening agents or as luminophores

This class excludes:
- manufacture of prepared dyes and pigments, see 20.30


20.13 Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicals

This class includes the manufacture of chemicals using basic processes. The output of these processes is usually separate chemical elements or separate chemically-defined compounds.

This class includes:
- manufacture of chemical elements (except industrial gases and basic metals)
- manufacture of inorganic acids except nitric acid
- manufacture of alkalis, lyes and other inorganic bases except ammonia
- manufacture of other inorganic compounds
- roasting of iron pyrites
- manufacture of distilled water

This class also includes:
- enrichment of uranium and thorium ores

This class excludes:
- manufacture of industrial gases, see 20.11
- manufacture of nitrogenous fertilisers and nitrogen compounds, see 20.15
- manufacture of ammonia, see 20.15
- manufacture of ammonium chloride, see 20.15
- manufacture of nitrites and nitrates of potassium, see 20.15
- manufacture of ammonium carbonates, see 20.15
- manufacture of aromatic distilled water, see 20.53
- manufacture of basic metals, see division 24


20.14 Manufacture of other organic basic chemicals

This class includes the manufacture of chemicals using basic processes, such as thermal cracking and distillation. The output of these processes are usually separate chemical elements or separate chemically -defined compounds.
 
This class includes:
- manufacture of basic organic chemicals:
• acyclic hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated
• cyclic hydrocarbons, saturated and unsaturated
• acyclic and cyclic alcohols
• mono- and polycarboxylic acids, including acetic acid
• other oxygen-function compounds, including aldehydes, ketones, quinones and dual or poly oxygenfunction compounds
• synthetic glycerol
• nitrogen-function organic compounds, including amines
• fermentation of sugarcane, corn or similar to produce alcohol and esters
• other organic compounds, including wood distillation products (e.g. charcoal) etc.
- manufacture of synthetic aromatic products
- distillation of coal tar

This class excludes:
- manufacture of plastics in primary forms, see 20.16
- manufacture of synthetic rubber in primary forms, see 20.17
- manufacture of crude glycerol, see 20.41
- manufacture of natural essential oils, see 20.53
- manufacture of salicylic and O-acetylsalicylic acids, see 21.10


20.15 Manufacture of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds

This class includes:
- manufacture of fertilisers:
• straight or complex nitrogenous, phosphatic or potassic fertilisers
• urea, crude natural phosphates and crude natural potassium salts
- manufacture of associated nitrogen products:
• nitric and sulphonitric acids, ammonia, ammonium chloride, ammonium carbonate, nitrites and nitrates of potassium

This class also includes:
- manufacture of potting soil with peat as main constituent
- manufacture of potting soil mixtures of natural soil, sand, clays and minerals

This class excludes:
- mining of guano, see 08.91
- manufacture of agrochemical products, such as pesticides, see 20.20


20.16 Manufacture of plastics in primary forms

This class includes the manufacture of resins, plastics materials, and non-vulcanisable thermoplastic
elastomers , the mixing and blending of resins on a custom basis, as well as the manufacture of
non-customised synthetic resins.

This class includes:
- manufacture of plastics in primary forms:
• polymers, including those of ethylene, propylene, styrene, vinyl chloride, vinyl acetate and acrylics
• polyamides
• phenolic and epoxide resins and polyurethanes
• alkyd and polyester resins and polyethers
• silicones
• ion-exchangers based on polymers

This class also includes:
- manufacture of cellulose and its chemical derivatives

This class excludes:
- manufacture of artificial and synthetic fibres, filaments and yarn, see 20.60
- shredding of plastic products, see 38.32


20.17 Manufacture of synthetic rubber in primary forms 

This class includes:
- manufacture of synthetic rubber in primary forms:
• synthetic rubber
• factice
- manufacture of mixtures of synthetic rubber and natural rubber or rubber-like gums (e.g. balata)


20.2 Manufacture of pesticides and other agrochemical products

20.20 Manufacture of pesticides and other agrochemical products

This class includes:
- manufacture of insecticides, rodenticides, fungicides, herbicides, acaricides, molluscicides, biocides
- manufacture of anti-sprouting products, plant growth regulators
- manufacture of disinfectants (for agricultural and other use)
- manufacture of other agrochemical products n.e.c.

This class excludes:
- manufacture of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds, see 20.15


20.3 Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics

20.30 Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, printing ink and mastics

20.30/1 Manufacture of paints, varnishes and similar coatings, mastics and sealants


This subclass includes:
- manufacture of paints and varnishes, enamels or lacquers
- manufacture of prepared pigments and dyes, opacifiers and colours
- manufacture of vitrifiable enamels and glazes and engobes and similar preparations
- manufacture of mastics
- manufacture of caulking compounds and similar non-refractory filling or surfacing preparations
- manufacture of organic composite solvents and thinners
- manufacture of prepared paint or varnish removers

This subclass excludes:
- manufacture of dyestuffs and pigments, see 20.12


20.30/2 Manufacture of printing ink


This subclass includes:
- manufacture of printing ink

This subclass excludes:
- manufacture of writing and drawing ink, see 20.59

20.4 Manufacture of soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing preparations, perfumes and toilet preparations

20.41 Manufacture of soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing preparations

20.41/1 Manufacture of soap and detergents 


This subclass includes:
- manufacture of organic surface-active agents
- manufacture of paper, wadding, felt etc. coated or covered with soap or detergent
- manufacture of crude glycerol
- manufacture of soap, except cosmetic soap
- manufacture of surface-active preparations:
• washing powders in solid or liquid form and detergents
• dish-washing preparations
• textile softeners

This subclass excludes:
- manufacture of separate, chemically defined compounds, see 20.13, 20.14
- manufacture of glycerol, synthesised from petroleum products, see 20.14
- manufacture of cosmetic soap, see 20.42


20.41/2 Manufacture of cleaning and polishing preparations 


This subclass includes:
- manufacture of cleaning and polishing products:
• preparations for perfuming or deodorising rooms
• artificial waxes and prepared waxes
• polishes and creams for leather
• polishes and creams for wood
• polishes for coachwork, glass and metal
• scouring pastes and powders, including paper, wadding etc. coated or covered with these

This subclass excludes:
- manufacture of separate, chemically defined compounds, see 20.13, 20.14
- manufacture of glycerol, synthesised from petroleum products, see 20.14
- manufacture of cosmetic soap, see 20.42


20.42 Manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations

This class includes:
- manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations:
• perfumes and toilet water
• beauty and make-up preparations
• sunburn prevention and suntan preparations
• manicure and pedicure preparations
• shampoos, hair lacquers, waving and straightening preparations
• dentifrices and preparations for oral hygiene, including denture fixative preparations
• shaving preparations, including pre-shave and aftershave preparations
• deodorants and bath salts
• depilatories
- manufacture of cosmetic soap

This class excludes:
- extraction and refining of natural essential oils, see 20.53

20.5 Manufacture of other chemical products

This group includes the manufacture of explosives and pyrotechnic products, glues, essential oils and
chemical products n.e.c., e.g. photographic chemical material (including film and sensitised paper),
composite diagnostic preparations etc.


20.51 Manufacture of explosives 

This class includes:
- manufacture of propellant powders
- manufacture of explosives and pyrotechnic products, including percussion caps, detonators, signalling
flares etc.

This class also includes:
- manufacture of matches


20.52 Manufacture of glues

This class includes:
- manufacture of glues and prepared adhesives, including rubber-based glues and adhesives
 
This class excludes:
- manufacture of gelatines and its derivates, see 20.59


20.53 Manufacture of essential oils 

This class includes:
- manufacture of extracts of natural aromatic products
- manufacture of resinoids
- manufacture of mixtures of odoriferous products for the manufacture of perfumes or food

This class excludes:
- manufacture of synthetic aromatic products, see 20.14
- manufacture of perfumes and toilet preparations, see 20.42


20.59 Manufacture of other chemical products n.e.c.

This class includes:
- manufacture of photographic plates, films, sensitised paper and other sensitised unexposed materials
- manufacture of chemical preparations for photographic uses
- manufacture of gelatine and its derivatives
- manufacture of various chemical products:
• peptones, peptone derivatives, other protein substances and their derivatives n.e.c.
• chemically modified oils and fats
• materials used in the finishing of textiles and leather
• powders and pastes used in soldering, brazing or welding
• substances used to pickle metal
• prepared additives for cements
• activated carbon, lubricating oil additives, prepared rubber accelerators, catalysts and other chemical products for industrial use
• anti-knock preparations, antifreeze preparations
• liquids for hydraulic transmission
• composite diagnostic or laboratory reagents

This class also includes:
- manufacture of writing and drawing ink

This class excludes:
- manufacture of chemically defined products in bulk, see 20.13, 20.14
- manufacture of distilled water, 20.13
- manufacture of other organic basic chemicals, see 20.14
- manufacture of printing ink, see 20.30
- manufacture of asphalt-based adhesives, see 23.99

20.6 Manufacture of man-made fibres

20.60 Manufacture of man-made fibres 

This class includes:
- manufacture of synthetic or artificial filament tow
- manufacture of synthetic or artificial staple fibres, not carded, combed or otherwise processed for
spinning
- manufacture of synthetic or artificial filament yarn, including high-tenacity yarn
- manufacture of synthetic or artificial monofilament or strip

This class excludes:
- spinning of synthetic or artificial fibres, see 13.10
- manufacture of yarns made of man-made staple, see 13.10

 

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.