Large rubber plantations owned by foreign companies employ many Liberians. Farmers on these plantations use modern methods to produce rubber, Liberia's main agricultural export. Other crops exported from Liberia include cacao, which is used to make cocoa, and coffee. Workers tap rubber trees in Liberia Liberia has some large forest areas. Timber cut from these regions is exported, used for firewood, or made into lumber for the construction of houses.
Service industries are economic activities that produce services rather than goods.
Such industries have become increasingly important to Liberia's economy. The most important service industries are government activities, finance, insurance, and real estate. Almost all of Liberia's mining income comes from iron ore, the country's most valuable export. A company jointly owned by Italians and Germans mines iron ore in Liberia. Liberian prospectors mine small amounts of gold and diamonds.