What are Light Industry and Heavy Industry?
Market News

What are Light Industry and Heavy Industry?

Industry determines the scale and level of national economic modernization, plays a leading role in the contemporary world national economy, and is the fundamental guarantee for a nation’s economic independence, political independence, and national defense modernization. Industry is divided into two categories: The sector that consists of large industries that are highly capital intensive is called heavy industry, and the sector generally composed of smaller industries, more focused on the production of smaller consumer products is called light industry.
Published: Jun 08, 2022
What are Light Industry and Heavy Industry?

What is Light Industry?

Although there is not a rigid internationally recognized definition for light industry, it generally refers to industries that mainly provide consumer goods and make hand tools.

Light industry is an important part of the national economy for the production of consumer goods such as food, paper, household appliances, clothing, housing, transportation, entertainment etc. It is important for satisfying domestic demand, providing employment, exporting goods, and supporting agriculture and farming.

What are the Types of Light Industry?

The different raw materials used, can be divided into:
  1. Light industry which uses agricultural products as raw materials:
    It refers to the light industry that directly or indirectly uses agricultural products as the basic raw materials. It mainly includes food manufacturing, beverage manufacturing, tobacco processing, textiles, sewing, leather and fur making, and the paper and printing industries.
  2. Light industry using non-agricultural products as raw materials:
    This refers to light industry that uses industrial products as raw materials. It mainly includes chemical manufacturing, synthetic fiber manufacturing, daily chemical products, daily glass products, daily metal products, hand tool manufacturing, cultural and educational sports goods medical equipment manufacturing, cultural and office machinery manufacturing, and other industries.

Light Industry Plays an Important Role in Economic Development:

  1. Light industry is the source of living and consumption materials for urban and rural residents, and it is directly related to the improvement of urban and rural people's material and cultural life.
  2. Light industry provides some means of production and supporting products for agriculture, heavy industry, and other sectors of the national economy, and serves the development of these sectors.
  3. Light industry is an important source of products for export and foreign exchange.
  4. Light industry generally has less capital investment, shorter construction periods, faster capital turnover, and is an important source of national fiscal revenue.
  5. Many light industries are labor-intensive so provide many employment opportunities.

What is Heavy Industry?

Heavy industry, similar to light industry, also provides the means of production for various sectors of the national economy. The development scale and technical level of a country's heavy industry is an important symbol of its national strength. The industrial sectors that belong to heavy industry include the iron and steel industry, non-ferrous metallurgy industry, and the metal materials industry.

Generally heavy industries provide means of production for other industries, while light industry generally produces the final products for consumption. Heavy industry can include manufacturing, electronic and electrical machinery, the chemical industry, metallurgy, energy, (electricity, oil, coal, natural gas, etc.) building materials, and other industries. It provides raw materials, fuel, power, technical equipment, and other materials for all sectors of the national economy. The development scale and technical level of a country's heavy industry is an important indicator of its national strength.

Under normal conditions of continuous technological progress, the growth rate of heavy industry in an economy is generally faster than that of light industry and agriculture. This is a general law of priority growth, as the means of production must come first before actual production of consumer goods can take place. However light industry and agriculture often provide raw materials for heavy industry, so heavy industry is also dependent on the development of light industry and agriculture. Because of this inseparable dependance of heavy industry on light industry and agriculture, the development scale and speed of the two industry sectors must be coordinated.

What are the divisions of heavy industry?

Many modern developments in the chemical industry have led to the chemical industry occupying a very prominent position in heavy industry. Therefore, the chemical industry is often classified as an independent heavy industry, leading to industry being divided into three major sectors: light industry, heavy industry, and the chemical industry. Sometimes heavy industry and the chemical industry are collectively called the heavy chemical industry.

Heavy industry can be divided into the following according to the nature of production and product use:
  1. The mining industry refers to the mining of natural resources including oil, natural gas, coal, metals, non-metals, and timber logging.
  2. The raw material industry refers to the industries that provide basic materials, power, and fuel to various sectors of the national economy. It includes ferrous and non-ferrous metal smelting and processing, coking and coke, chemicals, chemical raw materials, cement, petroleum and coal processing, glass fiber raw materials, sawn timber and other wood-based products.
  3. The processing industry (heavy manufacturing industry) refers to the industry that reprocesses and manufactures industrial raw materials into machinery and equipment for manufacturing, electronics industry equipment, chemical fertilizers, metal structures, cement products, and other building materials.
  4. A small part of heavy industrial products is used for daily consumption, such as electricity, domestic coal, cars, etc.

At present, many light industries are in a saturated state. From the perspective of investment demand, heavy industry would need to develop new innovative forms in order to improve international competitiveness.

Published by Jun 08, 2022 Source :wiki, Source :wiki

Further reading

You might also be interested in ...

Headline
Market News
The Quiet Secret of Electric Vehicles: Why No Gearbox Makes Driving Smoother
When you drive an electric vehicle, the first thing that might surprise you is the astonishing quietness and linear acceleration. There’s no gear-shifting jolt, no roar of a traditional engine—just a seamless connection between you and the car. Yet you might wonder: without a gearbox, how does an electric vehicle transmit power to the wheels? This is one of the key breakthroughs in EV design, simplifying the structure while redefining what “smooth” and “efficient” driving really feels like.
Headline
Market News
From Field to Fashion: How Cotton Price Fluctuations Affect the Textile Industry
Cotton is one of the most important natural fibers in the world, used in everything from T-shirts and jeans to bed sheets and duvet covers. For the textile industry, cotton is like a key ingredient in a restaurant kitchen—its cost accounts for a significant portion of production, and its quality and price directly impact the final product. In recent years, fluctuations in cotton prices have forced textile and apparel manufacturers worldwide to closely monitor the market, as even small price changes can affect annual profits.
Headline
Market News
Edge AI Injects New Advantages into European and American Manufacturing
When traditional manufacturing equipment transforms from cold mechanical tools into “real-time smart devices,” Edge AI is quietly sparking an industrial revolution. Without relying on distant cloud computing, this breakthrough technology enables machines to instantly detect anomalies and respond in real time, greatly boosting factory operation speed while achieving unprecedented stability and safety. As the global market experiences explosive growth, leading companies in Europe and the US are racing to enter the field, with Edge AI accelerating the manufacturing industry toward a new era of “smart real-time” operations!
Headline
Market News
Micromanufacturing Equipment: A New Opportunity for Precision Manufacturing
The manufacturing revolution in the micro world is quietly sweeping across the globe! As the medical, electronics, and automotive industries rapidly increase their demand for high-precision micro components, the global micromanufacturing equipment market is experiencing unprecedented growth. From implantable medical devices to smart car sensors, these precision tools not only drive technological innovation but have also become key investment targets for major international corporations and governments. With the support of intelligent and automated technologies, the future of micromanufacturing will be faster and smarter, propelling the global manufacturing industry to new heights!
Headline
Market News
Global Machine Tool Green Revolution Initiated: Who Will Lead the Future Market?
The global manufacturing industry is facing an unprecedented green revolution, and the machine tool industry is at its epicenter. With the phased implementation of the EU's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and strict Eco-design directives, carbon emission thresholds for mechanical equipment have become mandatory. This isn't just a rule for the European market; Asia and the U.S. are also tightening their energy-saving requirements, forcing global machine tool manufacturers to completely restructure their products and processes. Companies that fail to comply with the new green standards may be excluded from international supply chains. A new green competition, which will determine corporate survival and future market position, has begun.
Headline
Market News
LLM Factory Smart Assistant: “AI as the Intelligent Navigator of the Factory”
Modern smart factories often face challenges with scattered data and information silos. Although sensors, SCADA, MES, and other systems continuously generate vast amounts of data, the lack of integration makes it difficult to quickly identify the root causes of anomalies. Large language models (LLMs) are emerging as a key solution by enabling cross-system data retrieval and analysis through natural language queries. Acting as “semantic coordinators” within multi-agent manufacturing systems, LLMs can dynamically adjust production schedules and resource allocation in real time. The article references examples from Microsoft Azure AI, AWS, Schaeffler, and Siemens to demonstrate how LLMs help reduce downtime, increase transparency, and improve decision-making efficiency. Finally, it highlights that as LLMs integrate with automation and visualization technologies, manufacturing will enter the “semantic era,” where operators can access production line insights conversationally and instantly, driving smart manufacturing toward greater flexibility and intelligence.
Headline
Market News
How Taiwan’s Machine Tool Industry Is Responding to Rising U.S. Tariffs and Market Uncertainty
This article discusses the impact of the U.S. increasing tariffs on Taiwanese machine tools, raising the rate from the original 4.4% to 20%. This sharp hike has significantly weakened Taiwan’s competitiveness in the U.S. market, with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) being particularly hard-hit. In response, the industry has called for relaxed subsidy requirements and efforts to expand into new markets. Meanwhile, the government has introduced relief programs to help businesses reduce their dependence on the U.S. Despite the challenges, industrial transformation and close cooperation with the government remain key to moving forward.
Headline
Market News
The Talent Crunch Strikes! How Taiwan’s Machine Tool Industry Can Solve the Succession Crisis
Taiwan’s machine tool industry holds a crucial position in the global precision manufacturing supply chain. However, a silent "talent crunch" and "knowledge succession crisis" are now threatening its future. With the acceleration of smart manufacturing, AI, and automation, the industry's demand for high-end, cross-disciplinary talent—skilled in electrical control, software integration, and AI applications—has surged. Yet, the market supply is severely insufficient, hindering the industry's digital transformation and upgrade. Industry observers warn that if this gap continues to widen, Taiwan's international competitiveness in the machine tool sector could face significant challenges within the next five to ten years.
Headline
Market News
How Advances in Recycling Technology Impact Global Plastic Prices and Supply Chains
With plastic pollution becoming a central environmental concern, technological progress in recycling has emerged as a significant factor in shaping global plastic prices and the configuration of supply chains. In 2025, the evolution of chemical, mechanical, and digital recycling methods, alongside regulatory and market shifts, now interact in complex ways to influence the entire plastic value chain.
Headline
Market News
Laser Levelers: Precision Tools Driving Smart Construction
In the preparation of floors and foundations - where even minor deviations can have major consequences for machinery calibration, safety, or structural longevity - laser levelers have largely replaced traditional manual leveling methods, offering automation, speed, and pinpoint accuracy. Laser levelers - often referred to simply as laser levels - have become essential in a wide range of industries, from civil engineering and infrastructure projects to interior remodeling, equipment installation, and high-tech manufacturing.
Headline
Market News
Automated Food Manufacturing
The food processing industry is embracing automation and AI to boost efficiency, reduce errors, and ensure food safety. From material handling to packaging, smart systems enable stable operations, real-time monitoring, and data traceability—key to meeting market demands and securing global certifications. As more companies adopt AI and visual inspection technologies, the industry is entering a new era of data-driven, ESG-focused transformation.
Headline
Market News
How Blockchain Is Revolutionizing Supply Chain Management in the Textile Industry
The textile industry is one of Taiwan's major industries, covering a wide range from raw material procurement to end consumption. However, this large and complex supply chain has accumulated long-standing issues, such as unclear labor rights, environmental degradation, lack of transparency, and unclear product origins. As consumer demand for sustainable products increases, improving supply chain transparency and ensuring product quality has become a significant challenge.
Agree