Much of the nuclear industry's raw material, uranium, by contrast, is conveniently located in friendly places such as Australia and Canada.

ECONOMIST: Energy

Tied up in port sit two massive iron ore transporters carrying the raw material for the world's car making industry.

BBC: Downturn turns port hub to car park

Because components differ a great deal in terms of size, raw material bases and manufacturing methods, it's hard to see them as one monolithic industry.

FORBES: Beefing up the rump

For example, in an intriguing research project with my (rather exceptional) PhD student Amandine Ody, we asked lots of people in the Champagne industry whether different Champagne houses paid different prices for a kilogram of their raw material: grapes.

FORBES: Most People Don't Know Their Business (so asking them about it is useless)