CSIC: Chinese Industrial Classification for National Economic Activities

CSIC 2017 (official version code: GB/T 4754-2017) took effect on October 1, 2017. It is based on but not exactly aligned at any level with the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 4. While both systems have a four-level structure, CSIC 2017 contains considerably more categories at the third and fourth levels.

Changes Between CSIC 2011 and CSIC 2017.

The changes between CSIC 2011 and CSIC 2017 were driven by domestic developments rather than changes in the global reference standard which continued to be ISIC Rev. 4. While there were no changes at the highest level of the classification, several modifications were made at the more detailed end. There were changes to the scope and names of categories, along with mergers and splits of categories across the system in response to developments in China's economy and society. New categories in CSIC 2017 resulting from splits appeared in agriculture for example with the separation of the CSIC 2011 Group 1310 (Grain milling) into groups like 1311 (Rice processing), 1312 (Wheat processing), and 1314 (Cereal processing). In the manufacturing sector, reflecting the importance of robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning etc., the new CSIC 2017 Groups 3491 (Industrial robot manufacturing), 3492 (Special operation robot manufacturing), and 3493 (Additive manufacturing equipment manufacturing) were created from the CSIC 2011 Group 3599 (Other special equipment). Detail was added to the road transport business with the split of the CSIC 2011 Group 5430 (Road freight transport) into nine different aspects including 5431 (General cargo road transport), 5432 (Refrigerated truck road transport), and 5433 (Container road transport). Some new categories in CSIC 2017 are also mergers of older ones such as the Group 7291 (Travel agency and related services) which is a combination of the CSIC 2011 Groups 7271 (Travel agency services), 7272 (Tourism management services), and 7279 (Other travel agency related services).

Structure of CSIC 2017

CSIC 2017 is structured into four levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 20 Major Divisions, identified by the letters A to T.

• Division: 97 Divisions identified by two-digit codes (01-97).

• Major Group: 473 Major Groups identified by three-digit codes (011-970).

• Group: 1381 Groups identified by four-digit codes (0111-9700).

The table below shows the number of subcategories in the 20 Major Divisions of CSIC 2017. The Major Division C (Manufacturing) is by far the most detailed with 609 four-digit Groups followed by Major Division F (Wholesale and retail trade) with 128 Groups. These top two Major Divisions contain over half (53.3%) of the 1381 Groups in CSIC 2017. The manufacturing section is also the most detailed in ISIC Rev. 4 with 137 four-digit categories (Classes) much less than the 609 in CSIC 2017. In total, ISIC Rev. 4 contains 419 four-digit industries compared to 1381 in CSIC 2017, 238 three-digit industries compared to 473 in CSIC 2017, 88 two-digit industries compared to 97 in CSIC 2017, and 21 broad categories at the first level compared to 20 in CSIC 2017. In having additional four-digit industries and no fifth level, China's approach to adapting the ISIC is similar to Japan's: the Japan Standard Industry Classification has 1473 four-digit industries. The ISIC-based classification systems of other Asian countries like South Korea (KSIC Rev. 14), Philippines (PSIC 2019), and India (NIC 2008), have added a fifth level. Countries would have different reasons for the choice of one approach over another.

Resources

• CSIC 2017 (Current) - Codes with descriptions (in Chinese) - Excel

• CSIC 2017 (Current) - Manual (Mostly in Chinese)

CSIC 2011 (official version code: GB/T 4754-2011) operated in China between 2011 and 2017. It was based on but not exactly aligned at any level with the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 4. Both systems have a four-level arrangement, but CSIC 2017 contains considerably more specific categories at the third and fourth levels.

Changes Between CSIC 2002 and CSIC 2011

The release of CSIC 2011 followed the change in the global standard from ISIC Rev. 3.1 to ISIC Rev. 4 in 2006. Modifications were made across the system, including category redefinitions and several new detailed industries. In agriculture, new four-digit Groups in CSIC 2011 like 0321 (Chicken farming), 0322 (Raising ducks), and 0323 (Goose breeding) arose from the split of the CSIC 2002 Group 0330 (Poultry breeding). Similarly, the new Groups 0521 (Forestry pest control services), 0522 (Forest fire prevention services), and 0523 (Primary processing services of forest products) originated from the group 0520 (Forestry services) in CSIC 2002. In the manufacturing sector, several new groups (mostly textile-related), are mergers. This includes, for example, the group 1762 (Printing, dyeing and finishing of knitted or crocheted fabrics) which is a combination of the CSIC 2002 groups 1761 (Manufacturing of cotton and chemical fiber knitwear and woven fabrics), 1762 (Wool knitwear and woven goods manufacturing), 1763 (Silk knitwear and woven goods manufacturing), and 1769 (Other knitwear and woven goods manufacturing).

Structure of CSIC 2011

CSIC 2011 was structured into four levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 20 Major Divisions, identified by the letters A to T.

• Division: 96 Divisions identified by two-digit codes (01-97).

• Major Group: 432 Major Groups identified by three-digit codes (011-970).

• Group: 1094 Groups identified by four-digit codes (0111-9700).

Resources

• CSIC 2011 - Manual (in Chinese)

CSIC 2002 (official version code: GB/T 4754-2002) operated in China between 2002 and 2011. It was designed with reference to the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 3. While they both have a four-level structure, CSIC 2002 and ISIC Rev. 3 are not exactly aligned at any level. CSIC 2002 contains more categories, particularly at its third and fourth levels.

Changes Between CSIC 1994 and CSIC 2002

In CSIC 2002, the number of categories at the highest level the classification increased from 16 to 20. Across the system there were also category redefinitions and new detailed industries, some of which merged older activities from CSIC 1994. For example, in mining, the new Group 1020 (Chemical mining and dressing industry) is a merger of the CSIC 1994 Groups 1021 (Sulfur mining and dressing industry), 1022 (Phosphate mining and dressing industry), 1023 (Natural potassium salt mining and dressing industry), 1024 (Boron mining and dressing industry), and 1029 (Other chemical mining and dressing industries). Similarly, in manufacturing, the new Group 2651 (Primary plastics and synthetic resins manufacturing) is a combination of the CSIC 1994 Groups 2661 (Polyolefin plastics manufacturing), 2662 (Thermosetting resins and plastics manufacturing), 2663 (Engineering plastics manufacturing), 2664 (Functional polymers manufacturing), and 2665 (Organic silicon fluorine materials manufacturing).

Structure of CSIC 2002

CSIC 2002 was structured into four levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 20 Major Divisions, identified by the letters A to T.

• Division: 95 Divisions identified by two-digit codes (01-98).

• Major Group: 396 Major Groups identified by three-digit codes (011-980).

• Group: 913 Groups identified by four-digit codes (0111-9800).

Resources

• CSIC 2002 - Manual (In Chinese)

• CSIC 2002 Divisions (in English)

• Paper on transition from CSIC 1994 to CSIC 2002 (in English)

CSIC 1994 (official version code: GB/T 4754-1994) operated from 1995 to 2002. It was designed with reference to the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 3. While they both have a four-level structure, CSIC 1994 and ISIC Rev. 3 are not exactly aligned at any level. CSIC 1994 contains more categories, particularly at its third and fourth levels.

Changes Between CSIC 1984 and CSIC 1994

The change from CSIC 1984 to CSIC 1994 followed the change in the international system from ISIC Rev. 2 to ISIC Rev. 3. Accordingly, the system was significantly modified in CSIC 1994 including an increase in the number of categories at all levels. At the highest level of system, the number of categories increased from 13 in CSIC 1984 to 16 in CSIC 1994 and identified by letters of Latin alphabet rather than roman numerals. The new additions at the highest level included the Major Division N (Scientific research and comprehensive technical services industry) and Major Division O (State agencies, political party agencies and social groups). At the most detailed level, 178 new four-digit Groups were created, and several other refinements were made in response to the new international standard and developments in Chinese industry in the decade since CSIC 1984 was released.

Structure of CSIC 1994

CSIC 1994 was structured into four levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 16 Major Divisions identified by the letters A to T.

• Division: 92 Divisions identified by two-digit codes (01-99).

• Major Group: 368 Major Groups identified by three-digit codes (011-999).

• Group: 846 Groups identified by four-digit codes (0110-9990).

Resources

• CSIC 1994 - Manual (In Chinese): Original publication provided by China's Economic Data, a website maintained by Dr Pengzhan Qian.

• CSIC 1994 - Manual (In Chinese): On the website of the Office of Scientific Research, Tianjin Chengjian University.

CSIC 1984 (official version code: GB/T 4754-1984) was the first edition of the CSIC. It was designed with reference to the United Nation's ISIC Rev. 2. While they both have a four-level structure, CSIC 1984 and ISIC Rev. 2 are not exactly aligned at any level. CSIC 1994 contains more categories, particularly at its third and fourth levels.

Structure of CSIC 1984

CSIC 1994 was structured into four levels, as follows:

• Major Division: 13 Major Divisions identified by roman numerals (I-XIII).

• Division: 75 Divisions identified by two-digit codes (01-99).

• Major Group: 310 Major Groups identified by three-digit codes (011-990).

• Group: 668 Groups identified by four-digit codes (0110-9900).

Resources

• CSIC 1984 - Manual: Original publication provided by China's Economic Data, a website maintained by Dr Pengzhan Qian