Manufacturing, in the form of mineral refineries, textile factories, food processing plants and car factories, is to be found in and around Mexico City. Close to the US border is an area of industrial development, where foreign-owned companies pursue tax benefits and low employment costs by importing raw materials and exporting finished products.
Agriculture employs about 25-30% of the workforce, most of who are working on a small scale basis. Export crops such as maize, fruit, vegetables, coffee, cotton, tobacco and the tequila plant are usually farmed by large companies.