One of its major economic activities is tourism. Domestically, it is famous for the production of handicrafts, batik, keropok (dried fish crackers) and salted fish. Kuantan serves as the administrative and commercial capital of Pahang. Trade and commerce are also important in the economy of the town.
The timber industry, ice cream and the fishing industry also play major roles in the local economy.
Kuantan also experiences the presence of petrochemical industries, mostly located in Gebeng, an industrial area about 25 km north of Kuantan. Among the major companies operating in Kuantan are MTBE/Polypropylene (M) Sdn Bhd, BP Chemicals, MTBE, Flexsys, Bredero Shaw Eastman Chemical, Kaneka, Polyplastics, Mieco, KNM, JiKang, W.R. Grace, Cryovac, PPSC, AMC, etc
