What this class covers
ANZSIC class 3321, Petroleum Product Wholesaling, applies to Australian businesses whose main activity is buying and selling petroleum and related fuel products to retailers, commercial clients, or industrial users, rather than directly to the public. These businesses operate within the supply chain between refiners or importers and the end business customers. The classification focuses on the wholesale trade of various fuel types in bulk quantities.
Typical operations falling under this class include a company that distributes diesel and petrol to service station networks, a firm specializing in bulk LPG sales to industrial manufacturers for heating processes, or a wholesaler supplying lubricating oils and greases to mechanical workshops and mining operations. It also covers businesses that wholesale bitumen to road construction companies or heating oil to agricultural businesses for grain drying.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class primarily engage in:
- Wholesaling various types of fuel oil, including diesel, distillate, and heating oil
- Selling liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in bulk tanks or smaller containers
- Distributing industrial or lubricating oils and greases to other businesses
- Wholesaling kerosene, paraffin, and other specialized petroleum products
- Trading in crude oil or crude petroleum on a wholesale basis
- Supplying bitumen to construction and infrastructure companies
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class specifically excludes businesses that distribute liquefied petroleum gas through a mains system pipeline network. These operations are classified under ANZSIC class 2700: Gas Supply instead.
This class sits within ANZSIC Group 332: Mineral, Metal and Chemical Wholesaling, which includes other wholesalers of basic materials. Businesses that retail petroleum products directly to consumers would typically fall under retail trade classifications rather than this wholesale class.
Practical guidance
When registering your business, you'll need to select this ANZSIC code if petroleum product wholesaling is your main activity. This classification affects your Business Industry Code (BIC) for tax purposes and helps government agencies understand your industry sector.
You must register for an ABN and GST if your annual turnover exceeds $75,000. Petroleum wholesalers should be aware of specific fuel tax credit provisions and may need to comply with additional reporting requirements related to fuel sales. For workers' compensation insurance, your premium will be calculated based on this risk classification category, which generally falls under wholesale trade rates. Always verify your specific obligations with the ATO and your state's WorkCover authority, as regulations can change.