Process for the manufacture of 1,2-dichlorethane and of at least one ethylene derivative compound which is different from 1,2-dichloroethane starting with a hydrocarbon source according to which: a) the hydrocarbon source is subjected to a simplified cracking which produces a mixture of products containing ethylene and other constituents; b) the mixture of products is separated at least into a fraction A enriched with compounds which are lighter than ethylene, containing part of the ethylene, into a fraction B enriched with ethylene and into a heavy fraction C; and c) one fraction among fraction A and fraction B is conveyed to the manufacture of 1,2-dichloroethane and optionally of any compound derived therefrom, optionally after having been subjected to an acetylene hydrogenation, while the other fraction is conveyed to the manufacture of at least one ethylene derivative compound manufactured directly starting with ethylene which is different from 1,2-dichloroethane and optionally of any compound derived therefrom.