There are 17 large, and one medium scale industries in the district, of which, two are Central Government undertakings i.e.,
The
India Rare Earths, Chavara and Parvathi Mills Ltd., Kollam. Kerala
Ceramics Ltd., Kundara, Travancore Plywood Industries, Punalur, Kerala
Electricals and Allied Engineering Company, Kundara, Kerala Premo Pipe
Factory Chavara, Kerala Minerals and Metals Limited, Chavara, United
Electrical Industries Kollam, The Kerala Agro-Fruit Products, Punalur
and Kerala Government owned companies. Other major industries in
private/co-operative sector are - Aluminium Industries Ltd., Kundara,
Thomas Stephen & Co., Kollam, Floorco Paravur, Co-operative Spinning
Mill, Chathennur and Punalur Paper Mills, Punalur. About 8622 SSI units
have been registered in the district.Cashew processing and Coir production are also major industrial vocations of the district. Handloom industry, Clay and wood based industries also contribute to the industrial advancement of the region.
CASHEW
Cashes
processing is a major industrial activity in the district. The Kerala
State Cashew Development Corporation (KSCDC) is the largest processor of
cashewnut in the world. At present, it has 34 factories. K.S.C.D.C.
provides employment to more than 26,000 workers. K.S.C.D.C. exports
cashew kernels and cashewnut sell oil. It also manufactures tannin from
cashew testa; a by-product. The available rawnuts in the state can feed
the factories to only one third of its capacity and hence rawnuts are
imported from abroad.