Important: This page is an independent reference summary. Verify classification decisions against the official ABS source before using them for tax, licensing, immigration or compliance purposes.

What this class covers

ANZSIC class 1709 covers Australian businesses engaged in manufacturing specialised petroleum and coal products that aren't classified elsewhere in the petroleum and coal product manufacturing subdivision. This includes operations that further process refined petroleum components or distill coal tars into finished products. These businesses typically work with heavy and light oil components, synthetic organic compounds, and coal derivatives to create value-added products for industrial, automotive, and construction applications.

Common examples include factories producing lubricating oils and greases for vehicles and machinery, facilities manufacturing asphalt and bituminous materials for roofing and waterproofing, plants creating petroleum waxes and jellies for various applications, operations distilling coal tar into chemical intermediates like benzene or naphthalene, and businesses blending specialized petroleum solvents and hydraulic fluids. These operations represent secondary processing stages that transform base materials into finished or semi-finished products.

This classification is used by Australian businesses for ABN registration, tax reporting, statistical purposes with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and industry benchmarking. It helps government agencies and industry bodies understand the composition of Australia's manufacturing sector and track production data for these specific product categories.

Primary activities in plain English

Businesses in this class typically engage in one or more of the following activities:

  • Manufacturing lubricating oils, greases, and synthetic motor oils
  • Producing asphalt, bituminous materials, and emulsions (excluding hot-mix paving)
  • Distilling coal tar and manufacturing derived chemical products
  • Manufacturing petroleum waxes, jellies, and petroleum coke products
  • Producing industrial solvents like mineral turpentine
  • Manufacturing hydraulic fluids, brake fluids, and transmission fluids
  • Producing industrial chemicals like benzene, toluene, and styrene from petroleum
  • Manufacturing fuel briquettes (excluding charcoal briquettes)
  • Recovering and reprocessing lubricating oils from waste products

Exclusions and nearby codes

Certain activities that might seem related to this class are specifically excluded and classified elsewhere:

Businesses primarily engaged in petroleum refining (the initial processing of crude oil) are classified elsewhere in subdivision 17, not in this class which focuses on secondary processing and specialty products.

Practical guidance

When registering your business with the Australian Business Register, you'll need to select the appropriate Business Industry Code (BIC) that corresponds with your primary activity. For businesses in this class, the relevant BIC is 17090. This classification will appear on your ABN registration and may be used for tax purposes, particularly for reporting manufacturing activities and claiming relevant deductions.

Your ANZSIC classification can affect your workers' compensation premiums as different industry classifications have different risk profiles. Petroleum and coal product manufacturing typically carries specific safety considerations and insurance requirements due to the hazardous nature of many materials involved.

Businesses in this sector should maintain accurate records of production volumes, material inputs, and safety protocols as these may be required for regulatory compliance, environmental reporting, or if applying for industry-specific grants or assistance programs. The classification may also be relevant for meeting Australian standards specifications for petroleum and coal products.