Major Industries of the World - UPSC World Geography

The global economy is a vast and intricate tapestry woven from myriad industries, each contributing to the intricate web of trade, production, and consumption that defines modern civilization. From the towering skyscrapers of finance to the sprawling fields of agriculture, the world’s industries form the backbone of economic activity, shaping the lives of billions. Among these industries, several stand out as pillars of global commerce, driving innovation, employment, and prosperity on an unprecedented scale. From manufacturing and technology to healthcare and energy, these major industries not only fuel economic growth but also shape the very fabric of human society. In this exploration, we delve into the multifaceted landscapes of the world’s major industries, examining their significance, challenges, and enduring impact on the global stage.

The predominant industries across the world include:

Iron and Steel Industry: Dominated by Germany, USA, China, Japan, and Russia.
Textile Industry: Main players include India, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, and Taiwan.
Information Technology Industry: Flourishing in Silicon Valley, Central California, and the Bangalore region of India.

While the iron and steel, as well as textile sectors, have long standing historical significance, the information technology industry represents a burgeoning and dynamic sector in the contemporary landscape.

Table of Contents

IRON AND STEEL INDUSTRY

The industry requires various inputs, including raw materials like iron ore, coal, and limestone, as well as factors such as labour, capital, site, and other essential infrastructure.
The process of transforming iron ore into steel involves multiple stages, starting with smelting in a blast furnace and subsequent refinement.
The resulting output is steel, which serves as a raw material for various other industries.

The Indian iron and steel industry encompasses large integrated steel plants, mini steel mills, secondary producers, rolling mills, and ancillary industries.

Shifts in Industry Locations:

Before 1800 A.DThe iron and steel industry was situated where raw materials, power supply, and running water were readily available.
Later, the industry found an ideal location near coalfields, canals, and railways.
After 1950, a shift occurred towards large areas of flat land near sea ports, driven by the industry’s expansion and increased reliance on imported iron ore.

Indian Locations:

In India, the iron and steel industry strategically developed by leveraging raw materials, cost-effective labour, efficient transport, and proximity to markets.
Key steel-producing centres like Bhilai, Durgapur, Burnpur, Jamshedpur, Rourkela, and Bokaro are situated in a region spanning four states – West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, and Chhattisgarh.
Additionally, Bhadravati and Vijay Nagar in Karnataka, Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh, and Salem in Tamil Nadu are vital steel hubs utilising local resources.
India’s steel production surged from one million tonnes in 1947 to 30 million tonnes in 2002.

Jamshedpur’s Significance:

Before 1947, Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO) was the sole iron and steel plant in India, privately owned.
Post-Independence, the government established multiple iron and steel plants.
TISCO, initiated in 1907 at Sakchi (later renamed Jamshedpur), held a strategic geographical advantage.
Sakchi was only 32 km from Kalimati station on the Bengal-Nagpur railway line, close to iron ore, coal, and manganese deposits, and near Kolkata, providing a substantial market. TISCO sourced coal from Jharia coalfields and iron ore, limestone, dolomite, and manganese from Odisha and Chhattisgarh.
Ample water supply from the Kharkai and Subarnarekha rivers, coupled with government initiatives, provided the necessary capital for subsequent development.
The iron and steel industry’s growth in India catalysed rapid industrial development, forming the foundation for various sectors.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, a pivotal steel city in the USA, benefits from local availability of raw materials like coal and proximity to iron mines in Minnesota.
The Great Lakes waterway provides a cost-effective shipping route for iron ore.
Trains transport ore from the Great Lakes to the Pittsburgh area, while the Ohio, Monongahela, and Allegheny rivers ensure sufficient water supply.
Today, large steel mills in Pittsburgh are primarily located in the valleys of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers above Pittsburgh and along the Ohio River below it.
Finished steel is transported to the market through both land and water routes. Besides steel mills, the Pittsburgh area hosts diverse factories using steel as a raw material to manufacture products like railroad equipment, heavy machinery, and rails.

SUGAR INDUSTRY

Sugarcane, a bulky, low-value, weight-losing, and perishable raw material, plays a pivotal role in India’s sugar industry.
While India ranks second globally in sugar production, it claims the top spot in gur and khandsari production.
The inherent challenge with sugarcane lies in its perishable nature and the gradual loss of sucrose content, making indefinite preservation impractical.
Additionally, transporting sugarcane over long distances becomes economically challenging due to potential increases in transportation costs, which would subsequently escalate production costs, and the risk of sugarcane drying out during transit.
In the 2017/2018 season, India achieved a notable milestone by producing 33 million metric tonnes of sugar, solidifying its position as a key player in the global sugar trade.
With sugar output reaching unprecedented levels, India is poised to surpass Brazil and become the world’s leading sugar producer.
This surge in sugar output, witnessing an 11.5 percent increase from 2014 to 2015, resulted from robust cane harvests. However, the exponential growth led to a substantial surplus of sugar in India, creating financial challenges for mills and impacting workers’ salary payments.

Geographically, the sugar industry is dispersed widely, with significant operations in the northern states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, and Punjab, as well as in the southern states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Andhra Pradesh.

Notably, South India benefits from a tropical climate conducive to higher sucrose concentration in sugarcane, translating into increased yields per unit area compared to North India. This environmental advantage contributes to the region’s significance in the sugar business.

COTTON TEXTILE INDUSTRY

The art of weaving cloth from yarn has ancient roots, utilising materials such as cotton, wool, silk, jute, and flax.
The textile industry categorises its productions based on the raw materials employed, where fibres play a pivotal role.
These fibres are further classified into natural, including wool, silk, cotton, linen, and jute, and man-made, encompassing nylon, polyester, acrylic, and rayon.
Among these, the cotton textile industry stands as one of the oldest worldwide.

Before the 18th-century industrial revolution, cotton cloth was crafted through manual techniques like hand spinning wheels and looms. The advent of power looms in the 18th century marked a significant shift, first in Britain and later globally. Presently, India, China, Japan, and the USA are prominent contributors to the production of cotton textiles.

India, with its rich tradition, had a thriving market for hand-spun and hand-woven cloth even before British rule. Muslins of Dhaka, Chintzes of Masulipatnam, Calicos of Calicut, and Gold-wrought cotton of Burhanpur, Surat, and Vadodara were renowned for their quality and design globally.

The first successful mechanised textile mill emerged in Mumbai in 1854, making it a crucial hub due to its warm, moist climate, port facilities, access to raw materials, and skilled labour.
Despite initially flourishing in Maharashtra and Gujarat, factors like artificial humidity creation and the weight-retaining nature of raw cotton have led to the industry’s expansion across India.
Cities like Coimbatore, Kanpur, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Puducherry, and Panipat have become significant centres.
Ahmedabad, located in Gujarat on the Sabarmati riverbanks, became the ‘Manchester of India.’
Favourable factors included proximity to cotton-growing regions, ideal climate, flat terrain for mills, dense populations for labour, and well-developed transportation networks.
However, in recent years, Ahmedabad’s textile mills have faced challenges, with some closing down due to emerging textile centres and inadequate technological upgrades.

Osaka in Japan, often referred to as the ‘Manchester of Japan,’ emerged as a key textile centre due to geographical advantages.

The expansive plain around Osaka provided ample land for cotton mills, while the warm humid climate suited spinning and weaving.
The Yodo River ensured water availability, and the port facilitated the import of raw cotton and export of textiles.
Although once a thriving textile city, Osaka has seen a decline in its cotton textile industry, gradually replaced by other sectors like iron and steel, machinery, shipbuilding, automobiles, electrical equipment, and cement.

IT INDUSTRY

The information technology (IT) industry specialises in the management, processing, and dissemination of information, having evolved into a global entity shaped by technological, political, and socio-economic developments.

Key determinants for the establishment of IT hubs include resource availability, cost considerations, and infrastructure.

Two prominent centres in the IT industry are Silicon Valley in California and Bangalore in India.

Why Silicon Valley?

Silicon Valley, situated in the Santa Clara Valley adjacent to the Rocky Mountains in North America, boasts a temperate climate with temperatures rarely falling below 0 degrees Celsius.

Why Bangalore?

Bangalore, positioned on the Deccan Plateau, is aptly named the ‘Silicon Plateau.’ The city is renowned for its mild climate year-round. While other emerging IT hubs in Indian metropolises like Mumbai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, and Chennai exist, additional cities such as Gurgaon, Pune, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi, and Chandigarh are also significant IT centres. Nonetheless, Bangalore maintains a unique advantage, being a city with the highest availability of middle and top management talent.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1-What are the key inputs required for the iron and steel industry?

The industry requires raw materials such as iron ore, coal, and limestone, along with factors like labour, capital, site, and essential infrastructure.

2-What is the process involved in transforming iron ore into steel?

The process involves stages like smelting in a blast furnace and subsequent refinement, resulting in the production of steel.

3-How has the location of the iron and steel industry changed over time?

Initially based on the availability of raw materials, power supply, and water, later shifting to coalfields, canals, railways, and eventually large flat areas near sea ports after 1950.

4-Which regions in India are significant for the iron and steel industry?

Major steel-producing centres are located in West Bengal, Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, among others.

5-Why is Jamshedpur significant in the iron and steel industry?

Jamshedpur, formerly Sakchi, was strategically located for its proximity to raw materials, railway connectivity, and a substantial market. It was the site of the first iron and steel plant in India.

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Major Industries of the World – UPSC World Geography Notes