What this class covers
ANZSIC class 1312, Natural Textile Manufacturing, classifies Australian businesses primarily engaged in transforming natural fibres into yarns or woven fabrics. This involves industrial processes like spinning and weaving, using materials such as cotton, wool, flax, hemp, jute, or silk. The classification focuses on the production of the textile material itself, not the end products made from it.
This code is used by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) for data collection, and by businesses for ABN registration, tax reporting, and industry analysis. It helps group firms with similar production technologies. For example, a mill spinning wool into yarn for sale to knitters, a facility weaving cotton into denim fabric for garment makers, or a specialist operation producing silk yarn would all be典型 examples of businesses found in this class.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class are primarily involved in:
- Spinning natural fibres like cotton, wool, or silk into yarns or threads.
- Weaving these yarns into fabrics (e.g., cotton cloth, woollen cloth).
- Manufacturing cotton sewing thread.
- Producing strong yarn or fabric from flax, hemp, or jute, used for purposes like cordage.
- Making reinforced yarn or fabric from cotton for use in products like tyres (tyre cord).
Exclusions and nearby codes
Certain activities are specifically excluded from this class as they are covered by other ANZSIC codes.
The process of ginning cotton (separating lint from seed) is classified under ANZSIC 0521 Cotton Ginning, which falls within the Agriculture division. If a business weaves fabric and then uses that same fabric to manufacture finished products like curtains or furnishings, the entire operation is excluded from 1312 and is classified under ANZSIC 1333 Cut and Sewn Textile Product Manufacturing. Similarly, the manufacturing of textile floor coverings (e.g., woven carpets) is covered by ANZSIC 1331 Textile Floor Covering Manufacturing.
Practical guidance
When registering for an ABN or completing your tax return, you will likely need to select your main business activity using the ANZSIC classification. For natural textile manufacturing, this is code 1312. The related Business Industry Code (BIC) for Australian tax purposes is 13120.
Your state or territory's workers' compensation authority may also use this classification to determine your premium risk category. While this code itself does not guarantee eligibility, some government grants or industry support programs may target the manufacturing sector (Division C), so ensuring your business is correctly classified is a foundational step for compliance and potential program access.