The main economic activity is industry in many diverse forms. The prime industry of the city is textiles, which was present at the end of the 18th Century in Alcoy under the control of an artisan's guild system with Saint Michael as patron. Fabric for curtains, lace curtains, bedding and bedspreads, tablecloths, upholstery, drapery, as well as knitted items, felt, thread, stuffing were manufactured. Other products included items for home decoration and garments. There was also a significant historical presence of metallurgy in the manufacture of all kinds of machinery, in particular machinery for the manufacture of paper, processed articles and machine-powered tools.

More recently, other industries have grown enormously such as the food-processing sector, and in particular the production of olives stuffed with anchovy, cosmetics, spirits and plastics. We must not leave aside the traditional sweet-manufacturing industry famous for its peladillas or sugared almond.

Agricultural production includes wheat, barley, oats, maize, pulses, potatoes, forage, market garden produce, grapes, olives, almonds and apples.

Number of companies evolution: