Iron and sand reserves are small. Sulfur and sulfur-pyrite reserves are estimated at 2,500,000 tons, with deposits in north of Taibei. Marble and limestone are abundant in Hualian on the east coast, with reserves estimated at 330,000,000 tons. Petroleum, phosphorus, and natural gas exist in small quantities and manganese, asbestos, talc, glass sand, and other minerals have been found. Salt is produced by the evaporation of sea water.
Forests are most abundant in the high mountains.
One of the natural resources of Taiwan is camphor laurel, from which a great deal of camphor is produced. One-quarter of the total area in Taiwan is arable and fully cultivated. Sloping areas and dry riverbeds are also under cultivation, as are the tidal lands in the west. The most important crop is rice, which is grown on about 1,000,000 acres. Sugarcane is another important crop, which is planted on 235,000 acres.