The main sectors of the  Mexican economy are services; manufacturing; commerce (including restaurants and hotels); agriculture; mining (including oil extraction); electricity production;  and the financial industry. In recent years, Mexico has begun using modern technologies in both industry and agriculture. However, many traditional methods  are still used in rural farming.

Mexico produces large quantities of maize (corn), coffee, squashes, beans and tomatoes. Around 10% of Mexico is planted with maize, wheat, rice, and beans, but the country still imports more grain that it exports. Mexico also produces tropical products such as  sugarcane, bananas, pineapples, papayas, mangoes, coffee and cacao. Rice, cotton, wheat, peanuts, avocados and strawberries are also grown, and Mexico is  a leading world producer of vanilla, used for food flavouring.

Mexico produces two crops  which are hardly grown in any other part of the world. First, the henequén, grown in Yucatán, produces a fibre used in the making of furniture and cords. Second, the maguey is used to produce three typical  Mexican drinks: pulque, tequila and mezcal.

Mexico is one of the most  important world producers of meat, particularly beef from the northern regions.  Mexico's meat is both for national consumption and export.

Mexico is among the  world's largest producers of oil, silver, copper, gold, lead, zinc, natural gas  and wood. Other minerals, such as mercury, cadmium, antimony, manganese, iron and coal are also found.

Oil and gas reserves are two of the most important natural resources in Mexico, and very important for its economy (8th largest in the world). This industry first began before the Mexican Revolution in 1910. In the 1930s Mexico nationalised the  oil industry and PEMEX (Petróleos Mexicanos) was created, so that all the oil profits would now go to Mexico. These reserves yield about 1/10th of Mexico's export earnings and 1/3 of the government's revenues. During the 1980s  oil formed the basis of the Mexican economy. Today manufactured goods account for 80% of total exports and oil, only about 10%.

There are many oil fields in the Gulf  of Mexico and oil wells in coastal states such as Campeche, Tabasco and  Veracruz. Oil towns grew up around the sites where oil was being extracted, refined and processed. New oil and gas reserves are still being discovered today.

Mexico borders the Pacific Ocean, the  Caribbean Sea, and the Gulf of Mexico. As a result, Mexico has an abundance of marine resources including shrimp, tuna, sardines, anchovies, lobster, and  abalone.

Tourism is a major growth  industry, with people visiting from all around the world. They come to see the archaeological sites, the colonial architecture, the dramatic scenery and  beautiful beaches. They buy beautiful, hand-crafted souvenirs.