What this class covers
ANZSIC class 2133 classifies businesses in Australia that are primarily engaged in the industrial-scale primary smelting or refining of copper, silver, lead, or zinc. This involves using high-temperature furnaces and chemical processes to extract and purify these non-ferrous metals from their ores or from recycled scrap materials. The output is typically cast into basic, semi-finished shapes like ingots, bars, or wire bars for use in further manufacturing. A notable by-product of this smelting process is often sulphuric acid, which is also captured and sold.
This classification is used by government agencies like the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) and the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to collect and analyse data on this specific sector of the manufacturing industry. It helps in understanding the economic activity and environmental footprint of primary metal production in Australia. For a business owner, selecting the correct ANZSIC class is a fundamental step for ABN registration, completing Business Activity Statements (BAS), and industry reporting.
Examples of businesses that belong in this class include:
- A large smelter that processes lead concentrates into refined lead bullion.
- A refinery that uses electrolytic processes to produce high-purity copper cathodes.
- A facility that recovers and refines zinc from industrial waste or scrap metal.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class primarily perform the following activities:
- Operating smelters to produce blister copper or other impure metal forms.
- Refining copper, silver, lead, or zinc to a high level of purity.
- Recovering copper, silver, lead, or zinc metal from scrap or waste materials through industrial processes.
- Manufacturing electrolytic copper or zinc through electrochemical refining.
- Producing silver-lead bullion, which is a combined alloy of the two metals.
- Manufacturing spelter, which is a common name for slab zinc.
- Producing copper wire bars, which are semi-finished products for drawing into wire.
Exclusions and nearby codes
It is important to note which activities are excluded from this class. The key exclusion is the mining of ores. Businesses that mine copper, silver, lead, or zinc ores but do not perform the subsequent smelting or refining are not classified here. Instead, they are included in the appropriate classes of ANZSIC Group 080 Metal Ore Mining.
This class sits within the hierarchy of the Australian and New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification (ANZSIC) system. Its parent code is Group 213: Basic Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing, which itself is part of Division C: Manufacturing. Understanding this hierarchy can help identify other potentially relevant classifications for related business activities.
Practical guidance
When registering for an ABN or completing government documentation, you will likely need to specify your ANZSIC code. For businesses in this class, the code is 2133. The ATO uses a closely related system called Business Industry Codes (BIC); the corresponding BIC for this activity is 21330. Using the correct code ensures accurate reporting for tax purposes, including GST on metal sales.
Your state or territory work health and safety authority will use your industry classification to determine your workers' compensation premiums, as the risks in smelting and refining are significantly different from those in mining or other manufacturing. Furthermore, eligibility for certain government grants, environmental reporting schemes, or industry assistance programs may be determined by your ANZSIC classification, making accuracy essential.
If your business operations are complex—for example, if you both mine and smelt metals—you may need to report under multiple codes. In such cases, the code representing the activity that generates the most revenue is typically considered your primary classification.