What are southwest Asia's most important natural resources?

Southwest Asia's most important natural resources are petroleum and natural gas. This area, also known as Western Asia and the Middle East, contains 40 percent of the world's natural gas and over half its oil.

Southwest Asia also has a thriving mining industry. Aluminum is a major export of Bahrain, and Egypt is a world leader in gold production. Iran's Kerman Province contains the world's second-largest copper reserve, and nearby areas of central Iran contain large deposits of iron ore. The major mining industry of Turkey is boron salts, and 74 percent of the world's reserve of the mineral is within its borders.