Wholesale trade

NACE v2.1 Code: G46

About wholesale trade

NACE code 46 covers the wholesale trade industry, a critical component of the broader economy. Wholesale trade involves the sale of goods to retailers, industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, rather than to the general public. This industry plays a vital role in the distribution and supply chain, facilitating the movement of goods from producers to consumers. Wholesale trade businesses provide value by aggregating products from multiple sources, maintaining inventories, and efficiently distributing goods to meet the needs of their customers.

Production process

Wholesale trade operations typically involve the procurement, storage, and distribution of goods. Wholesalers often leverage economies of scale to purchase products in bulk from manufacturers or other suppliers. They then store these goods in warehouses or distribution centers, and fulfill orders from their customer base, which may include retailers, industrial users, or other businesses. Efficient logistics, inventory management, and order fulfillment are key to the success of wholesale trade enterprises.

Production inputs

The primary inputs for the wholesale trade industry include the goods and products that are purchased from manufacturers, producers, or other wholesalers. Depending on the specific product categories, these inputs may include raw materials, finished goods, or semi-finished products. Wholesalers also require warehousing and distribution infrastructure, such as storage facilities, transportation equipment, and information systems to manage their operations.

Production outputs

The main outputs of the wholesale trade industry are the goods and products that are sold to retailers, industrial users, and other businesses. These outputs can span a wide range of product categories, including 47 Retail trade, 10 Manufacture of food products, 25 Manufacture of fabricated metal products, and many others. Wholesale trade businesses play a crucial role in connecting producers with the diverse range of customers who require their products.

Revisions to 46

Classification codes are adjusted frequently. The code may have been revised or replaced between system versions. The table below shows the history (newest to oldest) of the code 46. The most recent 3 versions of this code (46) is in the NACE v2.1 system (this version):

This page shows the most recent version of code 46.

Family tree for wholesale trade

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G'>G: WHOLESALE AND RETAIL TRADE</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46'>46: Wholesale trade</a>"]

    A --> C["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/47'>47: Retail trade</a>"]

    B --> D["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/1'>46.1: Wholesale on a fee or contract basis</a>"]
B --> E["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/2'>46.2: Wholesale of agricultural raw materials and live animals</a>"]
B --> F["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/3'>46.3: Wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco</a>"]
B --> G["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/4'>46.4: Wholesale of household goods</a>"]
B --> H["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/5'>46.5: Wholesale of information and communication equipment</a>"]
B --> I["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/6'>46.6: Wholesale of other machinery, equipment and supplies</a>"]
B --> J["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/7'>46.7: Wholesale of motor vehicles, motorcycles and related parts and accessories</a>"]
B --> K["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/8'>46.8: Other specialised wholesale</a>"]
B --> L["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2-1/G/46/9'>46.9: Non-specialised wholesale trade</a>"]


    %% Color coordination by level

    classDef level1 color:#000,fill:#a8f9ff,stroke:#333,stroke-width:2px
    classDef level2 color:#000,fill:#e0a458,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level3 color:#000,fill:#419d78,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level4 color:#000,fill:#c04abc,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level5 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef level6 color:#000,fill:#f1c40f,stroke:#333,stroke-width:1px
    classDef highlight color:#000,fill:#fff,stroke:#000,stroke-width:5px



  %% Apply classes
  class A level1
class B level2
class C level2
class D level3
class E level3
class F level3
class G level3
class H level3
class I level3
class J level3
class K level3
class L level3

  class B highlight

  %% class A level1
  %% class B,C level2
  %% class D,E,F,G,H,I level2
  %% class J,K,L,M,N,O,P level3
  %% class B highlight