Geography · Ch 5 — Secondary Activities
Industries based on Inputs/Raw Materials
Industries based on Inputs/Raw Materials
Concept First
Industries are often classified by what they process. The raw material an industry uses determines where it can be located, what kind of labour it needs, and how its finished product reaches the market. This classification is straightforward: look at the source of the input. If it comes from a farm, it is agro-based. If it comes from a mine, it is mineral-based. If it comes from a chemical reaction or a chemical substance, it is chemical-based. If it comes from a forest, it is forest-based. If it comes from animals, it is animal-based.
Agro-based Industries
These industries process raw materials that come directly from fields and farms. The finished products are meant for both rural and urban markets. Major examples include:
- Food processing (canning, cream production, fruit processing, confectionery)
- Sugar
- Pickles and fruit juices
- Beverages (tea, coffee, cocoa)
- Spices and oils
- Textiles (cotton, jute, silk)
- Rubber
Food Processing is a key sub-category. Some preserving techniques — drying, fermenting, pickling — have been known since ancient times. However, before the Industrial Revolution, these methods had limited application and could only cater to small, local demands.
Agri-business is a modern form of agro-based industry. It refers to commercial farming on an industrial scale. The financing often comes from large corporations whose main business lies outside agriculture — for example, a tea plantation company owned by a conglomerate. Agri-business farms are mechanised, large in size, highly structured, and heavily reliant on chemicals. They are sometimes described as ‘agro-factories’.
Mineral-based Industries
These industries use minerals as their raw material. They are further divided into three types:
| Type | What it uses | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Ferrous metallic mineral based | Minerals that contain iron | Iron and steel industry |
| Non-ferrous metallic mineral based | Minerals that do not contain iron | Aluminium industry, copper industry, jewellery industry |
| Non-metallic mineral based | Minerals that are not metals | Cement industry, pottery industry |
Chemical-based Industries
These industries use natural chemical minerals as raw material. The most prominent example is the petrochemical industry, which uses mineral oil (petroleum). Other natural minerals used include salts, sulphur, and potash.
Chemical industries are also based on raw materials obtained from wood and coal. Examples of products from chemical-based industries include synthetic fibre and plastic.