Manufacture of plastics in primary forms

NACE v2.0 Code: C20.16

About manufacture of plastics in primary forms

NACE code 20.16 covers the manufacture of plastics in primary forms, a critical industry that supplies essential raw materials for a wide range of downstream sectors. Plastics in primary forms are the building blocks for countless products, from packaging and construction materials to automotive components and consumer goods. This industry plays a vital role in the global economy, enabling the production of affordable and versatile products that improve our daily lives.

Production process

The manufacture of plastics in primary forms typically involves a series of complex chemical processes. The most common techniques include polymerization, which combines small molecules (monomers) into larger molecules (polymers), and polycondensation, where monomers are joined together to form polymers. These processes are carefully controlled to produce plastics with specific properties, such as strength, flexibility, or heat resistance, depending on the intended application.

Production inputs

The primary inputs for the manufacture of plastics in primary forms include petrochemical feedstocks, such as natural gas liquids and crude oil derivatives, as well as various catalysts and additives. Specialized machinery, including extruders, injection molding machines, and compounding equipment, is also essential for the production of plastics in primary forms. The industry relies on a robust supply chain and access to reliable energy sources to maintain efficient and cost-effective operations.

Production outputs

The primary outputs of the NACE code 20.16 industry are various types of plastic resins, including polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These plastics in primary forms are then consumed by a wide range of other industries, such as 22.2 Manufacture of plastic products, 25.2 Manufacture of plastic and metal tanks, reservoirs and containers, and 29.3 Manufacture of parts and accessories for motor vehicles.

Revisions to 20.16

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 20.16. The most recent 2 versions of this code (20.16) is in the NACE v2.1 system:

This page shows a legacy version of code 20.16 ( NACE v2.0).

Newer versions

Related Tariff Codes (HS / Harmonized System)

These HS codes are related to this econ code: (20.16).

HS code HS year HS title
390110HS v2017Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of less than 0.94
390120HS v2017Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, polyethylene having a specific gravity of 0.94 or more
390130HS v2017Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers
390140HS v2017Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, ethylene-alpha-olefin copolymers, having a specific gravity of less than 0.94
390190HS v2017Ethylene polymers; in primary forms, n.e.c. in heading no. 3901
390311HS v2017Styrene polymers; expansible polystyrene, in primary forms
390319HS v2017Styrene polymers; (other than expansible polystyrene), in primary forms
390320HS v2017Styrene polymers; styrene-acrylonitrile (SAN) copolymers, in primary forms
390330HS v2017Styrene polymers; acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS) copolymers, in primary forms
390390HS v2017Styrene polymers; in primary forms, n.e.c. in heading no. 3903
390410HS v2017Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; poly(vinyl chloride), not mixed with any other substances, in primary forms
390421HS v2017Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; non-plasticised poly(vinyl chloride), in primary forms, mixed with other substances
390422HS v2017Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; plasticised poly(vinyl chloride), in primary forms, mixed with other substances
390430HS v2017Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers, in primary forms
390440HS v2017Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; vinyl chloride copolymers, in primary forms n.e.c. in heading no. 3904
390450HS v2017Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; vinylidene chloride polymers, in primary forms
390461HS v2017Halogenated olefin polymers; fluoro-polymers, polytetrafluoroethylene, in primary forms
390469HS v2017Halogenated olefin polymers; fluoro-polymers (other than polytetrafluoroethylene), in primary forms
390490HS v2017Vinyl chloride, other halogenated olefin polymers; n.e.c. in heading no. 3904
390710HS v2017Polyacetals; in primary forms
390720HS v2017Polyethers; in primary forms, excluding polyacetals
390730HS v2017Epoxide resins; in primary forms
390740HS v2017Polycarbonates; in primary forms
390750HS v2017Alkyd resins; in primary forms
390761HS v2017Poly(ethylene terephthalate); in primary forms, having a viscosity of 78ml/g or higher
390769HS v2017Poly(ethylene terephthalate); in primary forms, having a viscosity of less than 78ml/g
390770HS v2017Poly(lactic acid); in primary forms
390791HS v2017Polyesters; n.e.c. in heading no. 3907, unsaturated, in primary forms
390799HS v2017Polyesters; n.e.c. in heading no. 3907, saturated, in primary forms
390210HS v2017Propylene, other olefin polymers; polypropylene in primary forms
390220HS v2017Propylene, other olefin polymers; polyisobutylene in primary forms
390230HS v2017Propylene, other olefin polymers; propylene copolymers in primary forms
390290HS v2017Propylene, other olefin polymers; n.e.c. in heading no. 3902, in primary forms
390512HS v2017Poly(vinyl acetate); in aqueous dispersion, in primary forms
390519HS v2017Poly(vinyl acetate); (other than in aqueous dispersion), in primary forms
390521HS v2017Vinyl acetate copolymers; in aqueous dispersion, in primary forms
390529HS v2017Vinyl acetate copolymers; (other than in aqueous dispersion), in primary forms
390530HS v2017Poly(vinyl alcohol); whether or not containing unhydrolysed acetate groups
390591HS v2017Vinyl acetate, vinyl ester polymers, vinyl polymers; n.e.c. in heading no. 3905, in primary forms, copolymers
390599HS v2017Vinyl acetate, vinyl ester polymers, vinyl polymers; n.e.c. in heading no. 3905, in primary forms, other than copolymers
390610HS v2017Acrylic polymers; poly(methyl methacrylate), in primary forms
390690HS v2017Acrylic polymers; (other than polymethyl methacrylate), in primary forms
390810HS v2017Polyamides; polyamide-6, -11, -12, -6,6, -6,9, -6,10 or -6,12, in primary forms
390890HS v2017Polyamides; n.e.c. in heading no. 3908, in primary forms
390910HS v2017Amino-resins; urea and thiourea resins, in primary forms
390920HS v2017Amino-resins; melamine resins, in primary forms
390931HS v2017Amino-resins; n.e.c. in heading no. 3909, in primary forms, poly(methylene phenyl isocyanate) (Crude MDI, polymeric MDI)
390939HS v2017Amino-resins; n.e.c. in heading no. 3909, in primary forms, other than poly(methylene phenyl isocyanate) (Crude MDI, polymeric MDI)
390940HS v2017Phenolic resins; in primary forms
390950HS v2017Polyurethanes; in primary forms
391000HS v2017Silicones; in primary forms
391110HS v2017Petroleum resins, coumarone, indene or coumarone-indene resins and polyterpenes; in primary forms
391190HS v2017Polysulphides, polysulphones and similar products of chemical synthesis n.e.c. in chapter 39; in primary forms
391211HS v2017Cellulose acetates; non-plasticised, in primary forms
391212HS v2017Cellulose acetates; plasticised, in primary forms
391220HS v2017Cellulose nitrates (including collodions); in primary forms
391231HS v2017Cellulose ethers; carboxymethylcellulose and its salts, in primary forms
391239HS v2017Cellulose ethers; (other than carboxymethylcellulose and its salts), in primary forms
391290HS v2017Cellulose and its chemical derivatives; n.e.c. in item no. 3912, in primary forms
391310HS v2017Polymers, natural; alginic acid, its salts and esters, in primary forms
391390HS v2017Polymers, natural and modified natural; in primary forms (excluding alginic acid, its salts and esters)
391400HS v2017Ion-exchangers; based on polymers of heading no. 3901 to 3913, in primary forms
400211HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber (XSBR) latex, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400219HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) and carboxylated styrene-butadiene rubber (XSBR), (other than latex), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400220HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, butadiene rubber (BR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400231HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, isobutene-isoprene (butyl) rubber (IIR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400239HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, halo-isobutene-isoprene rubber (CIIR or BIIR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400241HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, chloroprene (chlorobutadiene) rubber (CR), latex, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400249HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, chloroprene (chlorobutadiene) rubber (CR), (other than latex), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400251HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), latex, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400259HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, acrylonitrile-butadiene rubber (NBR), (other than latex), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400260HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, isoprene rubber (IR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400270HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, ethylene-propylene-non-conjugated diene rubber (EPDM), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400280HS v2017Rubber; mixtures of natural and synthetic rubbers of heading no. 4001 and 4002, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400291HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, n.e.c. in heading 4002, latex, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
400299HS v2017Rubber; synthetic, n.e.c. in heading 4002, (other than latex), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip

Related ISIC Codes

These isic codes are related to this econ code: (20.16).

ISIC code ISIC Version ISIC title
2013ISIC v4.0Manufacture of plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms

Related CPC Codes

These CPC codes are related to this econ code: (20.16).

CPC code CPC Version CPC title
34710CPC v2.1Polymers of ethylene, in primary forms
34720CPC v2.1Polymers of styrene, in primary forms
34730CPC v2.1Polymers of vinyl chloride or other halogenated olefins, in primary forms
34740CPC v2.1Polyacetals, other polyethers and epoxide resins, in primary forms; polycarbonates, alkyd resins, polyallyl esters and other polyesters, in primary forms
34790CPC v2.1Other plastics in primary forms; ion exchangers
34800CPC v2.1Synthetic rubber and factice derived from oils, and mixtures thereof with natural rubber and similar natural gums, in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip
88423CPC v2.1Plastics and rubber manufacturing services

Family tree for manufacture of plastics in primary forms

    graph LR
    A["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C'>C: MANUFACTURING</a>"]
A --> B["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20'>20: Manufacture of chemicals and chemical products</a>"]
B --> C["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/1'>20.1: Manufacture of basic chemicals, fertilisers and nitrogen compounds, plastics and synthetic rubber in primary forms</a>"]
C --> D["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/16'>20.16: Manufacture of plastics in primary forms</a>"]

    C --> E["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/11'>20.11: Manufacture of industrial gases</a>"]
C --> F["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/12'>20.12: Manufacture of dyes and pigments</a>"]
C --> G["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/13'>20.13: Manufacture of other inorganic basic chemicals</a>"]
C --> H["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/14'>20.14: Manufacture of other organic basic chemicals</a>"]
C --> I["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/15'>20.15: Manufacture of fertilisers and nitrogen compounds</a>"]
C --> J["<a href='/classifications/nace/v2/C/20/17'>20.17: Manufacture of synthetic rubber in primary forms</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 level3
class D level4
class E level4
class F level4
class G level4
class H level4
class I level4
class J level4

  class D 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 D highlight