The country depends heavily on its sales of fish and fish products for the money it needs to buy appliances, fruits and vegetables, heavy equipment, and raw materials from other countries. Iceland trades mainly with France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States. About one-seventh of the working people catch fish for a living or are employed in fish processing plants. On small motor boats and open boats, crews often use long-lines to catch fish. The chief fish caught are capelin, cod, haddock, and herring.
Fish processing is the most important industry in Iceland.
Small processing plants stand along the coasts, and there are large freezing plants in Reykjavik and Siglufjordur. Most of the fish are dried, salted, or quick-frozen for sale to other countries. Some fresh fish are packed in ice and shipped to Germany and the United Kingdom. Iceland has a thriving publishing business. Other industries manufacture aluminum, cement, clothing, electrical equipment, fertilizer, and food products.