Economy, Forestry and Fishing

The cork-oak tree is the principal forest resource of Spain, and the annual production of cork, more than 52,000 metric tons in the late 1980s, placed Spain among the world leaders. The yield of Spain’s forests is insufficient for the country’s wood-pulp and timber needs.

The fishing industry is important to the Spanish economy. The catch, 1.3 million metric tons in 1997, typically consists mostly of sardines, mussels, tuna, hake, and squid.