Short answer
EMTAK codes are the fastest way to cut the Estonian company register down to one industry, and the easiest way to cut it wrongly. Use the code to draw the first rough boundary, choose the level of detail on purpose, and always add a second signal before you trust the list.
What an EMTAK code is
EMTAK is the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities. It follows the EU's NACE classification, so the first four digits mean the same thing in Estonia as in the rest of Europe. The fifth digit is an Estonian addition for finer detail.
The structure is a tree:
- Section (a letter): for example manufacturing, construction, or information and communication.
- Division (2 digits): a branch within the section.
- Group (3 digits) and class (4 digits): narrower activities.
- Sub-class (5 digits): the most specific, national level.
A company states its main activity in its annual report. A newly registered company states what it plans to do. A new version of the classification, EMTAK 2025, came into use in 2025, so older lists may carry codes from the previous version.
Choose the level on purpose
The most common mistake is filtering at whatever level the tool offers first. The right level depends on the offer:
- Selling something every company in a sector needs, such as safety equipment for construction: filter at section or division level.
- Selling to a specific trade, such as software for dental clinics: filter at class or sub-class level.
- Unsure: start narrow, look at twenty companies, then widen one level at a time until wrong ones start to appear.
Where EMTAK misleads
- It is self-reported. Nobody checks whether the code matches what the company really does.
- Only the main activity counts. A company that builds houses and also rents machinery has one main code.
- Holding and management codes hide real businesses. Many groups register the parent under head-office or holding activities.
- Catch-all classes are crowded. "Other" classes hold companies that fit nowhere else, and those that never thought about it.
- Codes go stale. A company that pivoted three years ago may still carry its founding code.
Add a second signal
An EMTAK filter answers "what do they say they do". Pair it with something that answers "are they a real buyer":
- Size: employees or turnover remove shells and one-person companies.
- Location: county or city, if you deliver on site.
- What they actually sell: the company's own website is the best correction to a vague code.
- Movement: growing turnover, new hires, exports.
A worked example
A supplier of commercial kitchen equipment wants restaurants. The obvious filter is the restaurant class. But hotels with restaurants sit under accommodation, catering companies under a different class, and canteen operators somewhere else again. The better list uses three classes, a minimum of five employees, and excludes companies with no turnover.
Next step
In the leadlist builder, pick the industry first, then add size and location and compare the counts. When the niche is something no code describes, such as "restaurants with their own bakery", use Market Scout instead.
FAQ
What is an EMTAK code?
EMTAK is the Estonian Classification of Economic Activities, the national version of the EU's NACE classification. Every company has a main activity code that describes what it mostly does.
How do I find a company's EMTAK code?
It is shown in the Business Register and on the company's ContactPit profile. A company reports its main activity in its annual report, and a new company states its planned activity when it is registered.
How many digits does an EMTAK code have?
Up to five. The first two digits are the division, three digits the group, four the class, and the fifth digit is an Estonian sub-class. Divisions are grouped into sections marked with a letter.
Is the EMTAK code always accurate?
No. It is self-reported and shows only the main activity. A company can earn half its revenue from something its code does not mention, and codes are often left unchanged for years.