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The United Kingdom was the first country in the world to become highly industrialized. The United Kingdom is one of the world's largest exporters of manufactured goods per head of population and the range of its industrial manufactures reflects its position as one of the most important workshops of the world. England is one of the most powerful capitalist countries in Europe. It has highly developed industries. There is a lot of industrial cities here, such as Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, Cardiff, Sheffield and many others. London is one of the biggest commercial centers of the world.

Coal is the main source for the development of British industry. The biggest centers of iron and steel industries are situated in the neighborhood of coal basins. Sheffield has specialized in producing high-quality steel and articles of steel: heavy armaments, wheels of railway cars, wearing looms, knives, fine instruments. British Steel is the fourth biggest steel company in the Western world. Just under half of the total output is exported.

Each of the big towns became the centre of various industries. Rifles,various machinery, railway cars, motor cars, electrical equipment, scientific instruments and many other things are produced in Birmingham in great quantities. Alongside with the most modern large plants a great number of old small enterprises are to be found in this town. Birmingham is Britain's "second city". The district around Birmingham is a land of factories and mines.

One of the leading industries of Great Britain is the textile industry. Britain produces a lot of wool, and the woolen industry is centered in Yorkshire. The main centers of cotton and woolen industry are Leeds, Bradford and Manchester which export their products to many countries. Plants producing textile machinery not only satisfy the needs in British industry but also export great quantities of machinery to the other countries.

The ship-building industry is of great importance for Britain. For centuries Britain has been the leading shipbuilder in the world.

Coal-mining, metallurgy, textile, shipbuilding are the oldest branches of industry. The new industries are the chemical, electro-technical, automobile, aviation and electronics. The new industries have developed hand in hand with science and technology and are equipped to meet present technical demands.

Britain's chemical industry is the third largest in Western Europe. The most rapid growth in recent years has been in pharmaceutical, pesticides and cosmetics. Britain also has highly developed mechanical engineering and metal goods industries, electrical, electronic and instrument engineering industries, shipbuilding and marine engineering industries, textile, clothing and footwear industries, manufacturing, construction, service and tourism industries.

There are approximately 250 British industrial companies. British Petroleum (BP) is the 11th largest industrial grouping in the world, and the second largest in Europe. Five British firms are among the leading 25 European Community companies. The largest manufacturing concerns are BAT Industries (tobacco, food products, etc.), Imperial Chemical Industries, Grand Metropolitan (food, drink, etc.), British Aerospace, Unilever (chemicals), Ford, General Electric Company, British Steel, and some others.

Britain is the world's ninth largest oil producer and the fifth largest gas producer. The two leading UK oil companies are BP and Shell.

London, Liverpool and Glasgow are the biggest English ports. International trade plays a vital role in Britain's economy. Exports of goods and services make up around 25% of national output.

Britain is a major exporter of agricultural machinery and agrochemicals. But because of lack of cultivated lands, it cannot supply the country with sufficient food products. Great Britain imports about 42% of its food. Two-thirds of agricultural land is owner-occupied. The fishing industry provides 59% of British fish supplies and employs nearly 17,000 full-time fishermen.