What Are the Main Industries of Spain?
Spain’s largest industries by annual output are textiles and apparel, food and beverage, metals, chemicals and shipbuilding. Tourism is also a significant contributor to the country’s economy.
Spain’s foreign-tourist industry is the second largest in the world. It employs about 2 million people and accounts for about 11 percent of the country’s GDP when domestic tourism is included.
Inditex is one of the world’s largest textile companies and is composed of almost a hundred smaller companies that deal in all aspects of clothing production and retail. Spain also exports a great deal of textile machinery. Six of the ten largest international infrastructure and transport construction firms are based in Spain. Construcciones y Auxiliar de Ferrocarriles is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of railroad vehicles and equipment.
Spain also has a strong automotive industry that is one of the top ten automotive producers in the world. The domestic brand SEAT is the largest of these companies, but a number of foreign manufacturers, such as Ford, Nissan and Renault have plants in the country.
Repsol is a major energy company headquartered in Madrid that employs about 24,000 people nationwide.
Other industries with significant production in the country include clay and refractory products, machine tools and medical equipment.
