What this class covers
ANZSIC class 2131, Alumina Production, classifies businesses in Australia whose main activity is the industrial refining of bauxite to produce alumina (aluminium oxide). This is a crucial intermediate step in the aluminium supply chain, transforming mined bauxite into a purified product ready for smelting. The classification sits within the broader manufacturing sector and is specific to the chemical processing and calcination involved, not the mining of the raw material itself.
This code is used by government agencies like the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) to collect and analyse data on this specific segment of the non-ferrous metals industry. For a business, it helps define its primary activity for statistical reporting, tax classification, and industry benchmarking. Typical operations that belong in this class include large-scale refineries that process bauxite using the Bayer process, facilities producing calcined alumina for industrial applications, and plants dedicated to the chemical purification of alumina.
Primary activities in plain English
Businesses in this class are primarily engaged in:
- Operating industrial refineries that process bauxite ore to extract and purify alumina.
- Manufacturing alumina (aluminium oxide) through chemical means like the Bayer process.
- Producing calcined alumina, which involves heating alumina to high temperatures to remove moisture and create a more stable product for specific industrial uses.
Exclusions and nearby codes
This class is specific to the refining process. It explicitly excludes the mining of bauxite, which is classified elsewhere in ANZSIC Division B (Mining), typically under a metal ore mining class. It also excludes the subsequent smelting of alumina to produce primary aluminium, which is covered by ANZSIC class 2132 (Aluminium Smelting).
This class is part of a logical grouping. It falls under Group 213 (Basic Non-Ferrous Metal Manufacturing), which also includes aluminium smelting (2132) and the manufacturing of other basic non-ferrous metals (2139).
Practical guidance
When registering for an ABN, you will need to select your main business activity. For an alumina production business, ANZSIC 2131 is the appropriate classification. This will determine your Business Industry Code (BIC) for tax reporting purposes.
Your workers' compensation insurance premium is often based on your industry classification and associated risk. Class 2131 is classified under the Manufacturing industry for this purpose. Be aware that large-scale industrial operations in this sector may have specific environmental and safety reporting obligations beyond standard business requirements. While general business grants are typically not industry-specific, large manufacturing projects may occasionally qualify for state government investment attraction programs.