Home / Occupations / 3542
Importers and exporters
SOC 2020: 3542 ISCO-08: 3331
Description & Synonyms
This occupation classification covers professional activities related to importers and exporters. Importers and exporters professionals play a critical role in the UK economy, specifically within the industries listed below.
Alternative job titles:
Import agentExport manager
Common Questions for Importers and exporters
Which SIC code should a importers and exporters use?
The correct SIC code depends on the primary business activity. If you are self-employed, choose the code that best describes your main source of income from the list below.
Is Importers and exporters regulated in the UK?
Regulation varies by specific role. You should check with professional bodies or the HSE for specific compliance requirements related to this SOC code.
Industries where this occupation is found
Based on official UK SIC 2026 mapping and NOMIS/Census data, this profession is primarily active in the following sectors:
46.11
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of agricultural raw materials, live animals, textile raw materials and semi-finished goods
class
46.12
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of fuels, ores, metals and industrial chemicals
class
46.13
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of timber and building materials
class
46.14
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of machinery, industrial equipment, ships and aircraft
class
46.15
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of furniture, household goods, hardware and ironmongery
class
46.16
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of textiles, clothing, fur, footwear and leather goods
class
46.17
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
class
46.18
Activities of agents involved in the wholesale of other particular products
class
46.19
Activities of agents involved in non-specialised wholesale
class
46.21
Wholesale of grain, unmanufactured tobacco, seeds and animal feeds
class
46.22
Wholesale of flowers and plants
class
46.23
Wholesale of live animals
class
46.24
Wholesale of hides, skins and leather
class
46.31
Wholesale of fruit and vegetables
class
46.32
Wholesale of meat, meat products, fish and fish products
class
46.33
Wholesale of dairy products, eggs and edible oils and fats
class
46.34
Wholesale of beverages
class
46.341
Wholesale of fruit and vegetable juices, mineral waters and soft drinks
subclass
46.342
Wholesale of wine, beer, spirits and other alcoholic beverages
subclass
46.35
Wholesale of tobacco products
class
46.36
Wholesale of sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery
class
46.37
Wholesale of coffee, tea, cocoa and spices
class
46.38
Wholesale of other food
class
46.39
Non-specialised wholesale of food, beverages and tobacco
class
46.41
Wholesale of textiles
class
46.42
Wholesale of clothing and footwear
class
46.43
Wholesale of electrical household appliances
class
46.44
Wholesale of china and glassware and cleaning materials
class
46.45
Wholesale of perfume and cosmetics
class
46.46
Wholesale of pharmaceutical and medical goods
class
46.47
Wholesale of household, office and shop furniture, carpets and lighting equipment
class
46.48
Wholesale of watches and jewellery
class
46.49
Wholesale of other household goods
class
46.491
Wholesale of musical instruments
subclass
46.492
Wholesale of recorded media
subclass
46.499
Wholesale of household goods (other than musical instruments and recorded media) n.e.c.
subclass
46.50
Wholesale of information and communication equipment
class
46.61
Wholesale of agricultural machinery, equipment and supplies
class
46.62
Wholesale of machine tools
class
46.63
Wholesale of mining, construction and civil engineering machinery
class
46.64
Wholesale of other machinery and equipment
class
46.71
Wholesale of new cars and light commercial motor vehicles
class
46.711
Wholesale of new cars
subclass
46.712
Wholesale of new light commercial motor vehicles
subclass
46.72
Wholesale of used cars and light motor vehicles
class
46.721
Wholesale of used cars
subclass
46.722
Wholesale of used light commercial motor vehicles
subclass
46.73
Wholesale of HGVs, busses and coaches and other motor vehicles
class
46.731
Wholesale of HGV’s
subclass
46.732
Wholesale of buses and coaches
subclass
46.733
Wholesale of other motor vehicles
subclass
46.74
Wholesale of motor vehicle parts and accessories
class
46.741
Wholesale of motor vehicle parts
subclass
46.742
Wholesale of motor vehicle accessories
subclass
46.75
Wholesale of motorcycles, motorcycle parts and accessories
class
46.81
Wholesale of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels and related products
class
46.811
Wholesale of petroleum and petroleum products
subclass
46.819
Wholesale of fuels and related products (other than petroleum and petroleum products)
subclass
46.82
Wholesale of metals and metal ores
class
46.83
Wholesale of wood, construction materials and sanitary equipment
class
46.84
Wholesale of hardware, plumbing and heating equipment and supplies
class
46.85
Wholesale of chemical products
class
46.86
Wholesale of other intermediate products
class
46.87
Wholesale of waste and scrap
class
46.89
Other specialised wholesale n.e.c.
class
46.90
Non-specialised wholesale trade
class
47.11
Non-specialised retail sale of predominately food, beverages or tobacco
class
47.12
Other non-specialised retail sale
class
47.21
Retail sale of fruit and vegetables
class
47.22
Retail sale of meat and meat products
class
47.23
Retail sale of fish, crustaceans and molluscs
class
47.24
Retail sale of bread, cake and confectionery
class
47.25
Retail sale of beverages
class
47.26
Retail sale of tobacco products
class
47.27
Retail sale of other food
class
47.30
Retail sale of automotive fuel
class
47.41
Retail sale of computers, peripheral units and software
class
47.42
Retail sale of communication equipment
class
47.421
Retail sale of mobile telephones
subclass
47.429
Retail sale of communication equipment (other than mobile telephones) n.e.c.
subclass
47.43
Retail sale of audio and video equipment
class
47.51
Retail sale of textiles
class
47.52
Retail sale of hardware, building materials, paints and glass
class
47.53
Retail sale of carpets, rugs, wall and floor coverings
class
47.54
Retail sale of electrical household appliances
class
47.55
Retail sale of furniture, lighting equipment, tableware and other household goods
class
47.61
Retail sale of books
class
47.62
Retail sale of newspapers, and other periodical publications and stationery
class
47.63
Retail sale of sporting equipment
class
47.64
Retail sale of games and toys
class
47.69
Retail sale of cultural and recreational goods n.e.c.
class
47.691
Retail sale of musical instruments and scores
subclass
47.692
Retail sale of recorded media
subclass
47.693
Retail sale in commercial art galleries
subclass
47.699
Retail sale of other cultural and recreational goods (not including musical instruments and scores and recorded media) n.e.c.
subclass
47.71
Retail sale of clothing
class
47.72
Retail sale of footwear and leather goods
class
47.721
Retail sale of footwear in specialised stores
subclass
47.722
Retail sale of leather goods in specialised stores
subclass
47.73
Retail sale of pharmaceutical products
class
47.74
Retail sale of medical and orthopaedic goods
class
47.741
Retail sale by opticians
subclass
47.749
Retail sale of medical and orthopaedic goods n.e.c.
subclass
47.75
Retail sale of cosmetic and toilet articles
class
47.76
Retail sale of flowers, plants, fertilisers, pets and pet food
class
47.77
Retail sale of watches and jewellery
class
47.78
Retail sale of other new goods
class
47.79
Retail sale of second-hand goods
class
47.791
Retail sale of antiques including antique books, in stores
subclass
47.799
Retail sale of second-hand goods (other than antiques and antique books) in stores
subclass
47.81
Retail of new cars and light commercial motor vehicles
class
47.811
Retail of new cars
subclass
47.812
Retail of new light commercial motor vehicles
subclass
47.82
Retail of used cars and light commercial motor vehicles
class
47.821
Retail of used cars
subclass
47.822
Retail of used light commercial motor vehicles
subclass
47.83
Retail of HGVs, buses and coaches and other motor vehicles
class
47.831
Retail of HGV’s
subclass
47.832
Retail of buses and coaches
subclass
47.833
Retail of other motor vehicles
subclass
47.84
Retail sale of motor vehicle parts and accessories
class
47.841
Retail of motor vehicle parts
subclass
47.842
Retail of motor vehicle accessories
subclass
47.85
Retail sale of motorcycles, motorcycle parts and accessories
class
47.91
Intermediation service activities for non-specialised retail sale
class
47.92
Intermediation service activities for specialised retail sale
class
47.921
Activities of retail auctioneering houses for art works, antiques and antiquities
subclass
47.929
Intermediation service activities for specialised retail sale n.e.c
subclass