Basic industries are the types of companies that provide the raw materials, components, and finished products used to manufacture other goods and services. These industries typically use natural resources, energy, and labor heavily and tend to be concentrated in specific geographic areas. Examples of basic industries include agriculture, forestry, fishing, mining, oil and gas extraction, quarrying, and manufacturing.
In recent years, many developed countries have shifted their focus away from basic industries in favor of more knowledge-intensive sectors such as finance, information technology, and healthcare. However, basic industries still play a vital role in the global economy and are expected to remain an essential part of the industrial landscape in the years to come.
Here is a list of some of the world’s largest companies in the basic industries field:
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1. Procter & Gamble Company
Procter & Gamble Company is an American multinational consumer goods corporation headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company was founded in 1837 by William Procter and James Gamble. It employs over 106 thousand people worldwide and operates in over 80 countries.
Procter & Gamble is a leading producer of many consumer goods, including soap, detergent, cosmetics, food, and beverages. The company’s products are sold under many well-known brands, such as Tide, Pampers, Ariel, Gillette, and Oral-B. Procter & Gamble has a long history of innovation and is consistently ranked among the world’s most valuable brands.
2. Chevron Corporation
Chevron Corporation is an American multinational energy corporation headquartered in San Ramon, California. The company was founded in 1906 and employs over 42 thousand people worldwide. It operates in over 180 countries and is engaged in various businesses, including upstream oil and gas exploration and production, downstream refining and marketing, and chemicals manufacturing.
Chevron is one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies and is a major player in the global energy market. The company’s operations focus on regions such as North America, South America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Chevron is also one of the largest natural gas producers in the United States.
3. Cargill
Cargill is an American privately-held multinational corporation headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. The company was founded in 1865 by William Cargill and employs over 166 thousand people worldwide. It operates in 66 countries and is engaged in various businesses, including agriculture, food, and beverage, financial, and industrial.
Cargill is the largest privately-held company in the United States and is one of the world’s largest providers of food and agricultural products. The company has a strong presence in emerging markets and is a leading risk management and financial services provider to the global agriculture industry.
4. ExxonMobil
ExxonMobil is an American multinational oil and gas corporation headquartered in Irving, Texas. The company was founded in 1999 by the merger of Exxon and Mobil and employs over 64 thousand people worldwide. It operates in over 38 countries and production in 23 countries. ExxonMobil is the largest oil company in the USA and one of the biggest in the world.
The corporation’s primary activities are petroleum, natural gas, coal, nuclear fuels, chemicals, and mineral ores. ExxonMobil is also a leading manufacturer of synthetic rubber and plastics. The company has a strong presence in the upstream oil and gas industry and is one of the largest refiners and marketers in the world. Some of the brands that operate under the company include Mobil, Exxon, ExxonMobil Chemical, Esso, etc.
5. Rudolph and Sletten
Rudolph and Sletten is an American construction company headquartered in San Carlos, California, with regional offices in San Diego, Roseville, Irvine, and San Francisco. The company was founded in 1959 by O.H. Rudolph and Kenneth G. Sletten. It currently employs over 500+ people. It operates in the United States and Canada.
Rudolph and Sletten is one of the largest general contractors in the United States and specializes in the construction of healthcare, education, commercial, industrial, and governmental facilities, etc. The company has completed many notable projects, such as the Apple Campus, San Diego Central Courthouse, San Leandro Medical Center, the Moffett Towers Office Park, etc.
6. Newmont Mining Corporation
Newmont Mining Corporation is an American gold mining company headquartered in Greenwood Village, Colorado. The company was founded in 1921 and is currently the world’s largest mining company. They own gold mines in Australia, Ghana, Peru, and the United States. They have over 14,000 employees worldwide.
Newmont is the only gold company included in the S&P 500 Index. Apart from gold, the company is also a leading producer of copper, zinc, lead, and silver. Newmont has a strong portfolio of long-term operating mines and a pipeline of development and exploration projects.
7. Dow Chemical Company
The Dow Chemical Company, a subsidiary of Dow Inc., is an American multinational chemical corporation headquartered in Midland, Michigan. The company was founded in 1897 by Herbert Henry Dow and currently employs over 54 thousand people worldwide. It has a presence in 160 countries around the world. It was the third-largest chemical company in the world before merging with E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company.
Dow is called the “chemical company” for the chemical companies as it manufactures products for other industries instead of the end users. Apart from the chemicals, Dow manufactures plastic and agricultural products. Some products of the company include performance plastics, performance chemicals, basic plastics, water purifications, etc.
8. PPG Industries
PPG Industries, Inc. is an American multinational chemical company headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The company was founded in 1883 as the Pittsburgh Plate Glass Company and currently employs over 47 thousand people worldwide. It operates in more than 70 countries around the world. PPG is a leading manufacturer of coatings, glass, and chemicals.
PPG Industries supplies a wide range of products for the automotive, aerospace, construction, packaging, and industrial markets. Some notable brands PPG operates are Glidden paint, Olympic paint, Pittsburgh Paints, etc. They are the second largest paint company in the world by revenue as of 2021.
9. International Paper
International Paper is an American multinational pulp and paper company headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee. The company was founded in 1898 and currently employs over 49 thousand people worldwide. It has more than 25000 customers in 150 countries around the world. International Paper is the biggest paper company in the world.
The company operates in three segments: industrial packaging, printing papers, and consumer packaging. The company’s products include corrugated packaging, envelopes, commercial printing papers, office papers, etc. Some of the notable brands operated by International Paper are Hammermill, Springhill, etc.
10. General Electronics
General Electric Company (GE) is an American multinational conglomerate headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1892 by Charles A. Coffin, Thomas Edison, and J. P. Morgan. Currently employs over 168,000 thousand people worldwide. It has a presence in more than 100 countries around the world. GE is a leading provider of digital industrial technology solutions.
GE operates in a wide variety of sectors, including healthcare, aviation, digital industry, power, additive manufacturing, renewable energy, rail transport, etc. Some of GE’s notable products and services are Jet engines, electric and electronic equipment, financial services, and much more.
Conclusion
These are just some of the world’s largest basic companies. Each company has a fascinating history, many of which were founded in the late 1800s or early 1900s. These companies employ hundreds of thousands of people worldwide and are responsible for innovations in their respective industries.
As we have seen, each company is a leader in its field, whether it be chemicals, agriculture, mining, or manufacturing. These companies will continue to be at the forefront of their industries for years to come.
