INDUSTRIAL & MANUFACTURING OVERVIEW

The industrial and manufacturing sectors, the industries that gave rise to the region as an economic force in the South, have seen a recent resurgance with the rapid growth of the automotive industry. With Honda locating to the east of region, Mercedes-Benz locating west of the region, and Hyundai locating south of the region in Montgomery, the Birmingham region is poised to become a major manufacturer, supplier, and distribution hub for support to the automotive industry.

As of 2009, the principal employers among industry groups were durable goods and kindred products, ductile iron pipe, coated steel products, food processing and manufacturing, primary metal industries, industrial machinery and equipment, military equipment, and transportation equipment. Electrical machinery, computer equipment, and transportation equipment in Alabama are typically exported to Canada, Mexico, and Germany.

LARGEST MANUFACTURERS
The region's top manufacturers are primarily engaged in the production of iron, steel, coal, food, and associated equipment.

INDUSTIAL PARKS
There are dozens of industrial parks serving the Birmingham region, including one designated as a Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ). The largest is Corridor West Business Park, located between downtown Birmingham and the Mercedes-Benz plant in Vance, 30 miles away.

The area of focus for major industrial development is Oxmoor Valley, a 7,000 acre mixed-use park with a significant research component. Oxmoor Valley is located in southwest Birmingham.