Primarily made up of small and medium-sized businesses and industries, the economic fabric of the Marseille metropolis is characterised by its great diversity.

Traditional industries – petrochemicals, chemicals, food processing, aeronautics, logistics, clothing and fashion, ocean engineering, microelectronics, mechanics, robotics and health – are continuing to develop, while new activities are gaining a foothold, driving growth.

In this way, communication industries, biotechnologies, optical components – photonics, water sports industries, cultural and tourism activities represent the new face of the city's economy where the commercial sector, in full expansion, boosted by the Euro-Mediterranean project, is responding to growing demand for services.

Comex
Photo by Pascal DELCEY

• 72,500 establishments ,
• Commercial : 84% of jobs, 54% of establishments in the metropolis provide services for companies and individuals,
• 30% of French oil refining around Etang de Berre and Fos sur Mer ,
• Food processing : 1 st region in France , 5.6 billion euros in sales, 28,350 jobs,
• Aeronautics : 3 rd region in France , 7,500 jobs, Eurocopter: world's biggest helicopter manufacturer,
• Steel industry : 25% of national steel flat steel production in Fos sur Mer,
• Microelectronics : 1 st centre in Southern Europe , 40% of French production, 7,000 jobs in the metropolis,
• Mechanics and robotics : one third of the French market, 1 st French research centre,
• Logistics : 1 st logistics centre in the South of France, 55,000 jobs,
• Fashion and clothing : 2,400 establishments, 6,800 jobs, 1.4 billion euros in sales in the metropolis,
• Ocean engineering : a global centre of excellence, 7,000 specialists in marine science and technologies, 90 R&D (Research and Development) organisations. One symbol: the Comex.
• Water sports industries : 2,100 companies in the region, 10,600 jobs, 1.6 billion euros in sales,
• Health : 15,000 public hospital jobs, including 2,000 doctors in Marseille, 250 companies (pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology, surgical instruments, etc.), 2 nd French centre for medical research,
• Optics-Photonics : 20% of the national potential in the region,
• Communication industries : 2,360 companies, 17,000 jobs.