What does the secondary industry focus on?

The secondary industry focuses on processing materials into goods, which involves transforming raw materials obtained from the primary industry into finished products. This sector plays a crucial role in the production chain by adding value to raw materials through manufacturing processes. For example, wood from trees may be processed into furniture, or iron ore may be transformed into steel, which can then be utilized in construction or manufacturing.

This distinction is important as it identifies the secondary industry as a vital link between obtaining raw resources and creating consumer-ready products. While other answers refer to different sectors—such as the primary industry, which is concerned with farming and extracting raw materials, and the tertiary industry, which involves service provision—they do not capture the essence of the secondary industry's function, which is explicitly about manufacturing and processing.