Economy of Languedoc-Roussillon

The economy of Languedoc-Roussillon is based on three sectors: the Agriculture, the Industry and services in particular thanks to the Tourism.

Agriculture

The diversity of the primary sector reflects the variety of the natural units. The breeding is concentrated primarily in the areas of mountain, and mainly in Lozere, where it is about ovine breeding (510 000 heads). This breeding is today in difficulty and the gross income by exploitation is lower by 40% than the national average. From this breeding, one draws also an artisanal manufacture from Fromage S.

However, the essence of the primary activity of the area is elsewhere since it is made up to 90% by cultures. The first of these cultures is the Vigne which ensures the production of 22 million hectolitres of wines per annum is 40% of the national production, and which is present in all the area, as well in Roussillon as in low Languedoc. However, this vine growing is in full reconversion: to escape the dramatic effects of competition of the Italian wines, Spanish or Greek, the wine growers undertook to pass from a Vignoble of mass to a vineyard of quality, and follow a policy of pulling up (200 000ha, with the support of the European Union) and of wine recognition of appellation contr4ol3ee (AOC).

After the vine, the other important cultures are the productions of fruit and vegetables (2nd national rank), very developed in Roussillon and in the south of Nimes, where the irrigation comes to compensate for the weakness of precipitations.

The area also produces 167.000 tons of durum wheat (3rd national rank). Another branch of industry on all it littoral of the area, the fishing is an activity varied by the species fished (Sardine S, Thon S, Anguille S in the lagoons of the littoral) and locally important (Sète, first French fishing port on the the Mediterranean; Port-Vendres). One practices also the Ostréiculture and the Mytiliculture (pond of Leucate, Bassin of Thau).

The primary sector ensures 10,3% more of regional employment (France: 6,8%).

Industry

The secondary industry on the contrary under-is represented and ensures only 13,6% of regional employment whereas at the national level it accounts for 22,8%. The traditional activities that are the Textile in Lozere and with Nimes and exploitation of the resources of the coal basin of Alès, which was formerly vastest of the south-west of France, are today in difficulty. The passage to a elaborate Metallurgy, being based on the training higher given than the school of the Ale mines, is done with the detriment of employment maintenance. The traditional sector of the Agroalimentaire is always very present in all the area. More dynamic industrial activities develop, parallel to the rise of research and higher education with Montpellier. The principal branches concerned are the Informatique and the drug company. The principal industrial poles of the area are Montpellier, Nimes, Béziers, Narbonne and Perpignan. Sète is the second French commercial port on the Mediterranean, and accommodates imports of Pétrole, refined gross then with Frontignan, wood tropical and wine. It exports hydrocarbons, wines and cereals. Lastly, in the mountains of the the Pyrenees, the exploitation of the natural resources for the energy production is a factor of revival for the local economies. Thus, the high valley of the Aude, the Small fireclay cup and Tech are equipped in hydroelectric stations and Odeillo accommodates the only power station électrosolaire France. The nuclear power is also present on several sites: one concentrates Uranium in the factory of Malvesi, close to Narbonne and with Saint-Martin-of-Bosc (Bosc). Uranium is extracted and exploited with Lodève and a power station with breeder Phoenix 250 is established with Marcoule.

Services

The tertiary sector incontestably occupies the foreground in Languedoc-Roussillon area. They are even responsible for the demographic dynamism of the area, whose migratory balance is positive for the litoraux departments and in particular the Herault and the the Eastern Pyrenees. On the other hand, the Lozere which remains with the variation of the growth of the tertiary sector, continues to lose population. this sector is based on two dynamic activities: higher education and the Tourism. Montpellier accommodates more than 40.000 students in its three universities and other cities like Perpignan, Nimes and Narbonnes are also active in this field. Tourism is by far the most important activity in the area and fact of it the third area of reception in France. It owes it with its littoral, the balneal activities remaining more the appraisals by the tourists. Many stations were thus arranged on the coast, of which some intended for tourism of mass, in particular in Languedoc with Palavas-the-Floods, the Grande Motte or the Cape of Agde. However, tourism develops also and more and more in the back country which present the natural spaces preserved like the National park of the Cevennes, the Regional natural park of High-Languedoc or the Gorges of the Tarn. Cultural tourism finds also many sites in the area: ancient city of Nimes, the Bridge of Gard, medieval cities of Acute-Dead Carcassonne and , towns of Perpignan and Montpellier to the many monuments. the reputation of the local gastronomy supports this estival tourism agreeably. Tourism of winter also exists him but there remains modest and limited to some stations of the the Eastern Pyrenees to Make-Romeu. Other tertiary sector of the area, the army is present in various sites. Montpellier is the seat of the forces of the first army corps and Nimes that of the FAR (Fast Force of Action). A military air base is established in Narbonne and an air and sea base in Nimes.

External bond

Statistics & economic studies INSEE Languedoc-Roussillon

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