Key sectors represented in the district are chemicals, engineering and metalworking. In addition, the district also has one of the largest rock salt mines in Europe. The north of the district boasts a long tradition of clay roofing tiles manufacturing, especially in Schermbeck, and this is still an important production factor today. The sand and gravel industry is important far beyond the immediate boundaries of the region. Agriculture is also an important economic factor, especially the highly developed cattle and pig-breeding sector. Of increasing importance is the foodstuffs industry, which maintains a number of significant operations in the district of Wesel. Economic development since the turn of the century has been heavily influenced by coal mining. Since the 1970s the modern, high-performing mines of the district have also been affected by the structural transition in the German mining regions. Today only the Bergwerk West pit in Kamp-Lintfort remains in operation. The former colliery sites are now increasingly home to technology and start up centres, as well as centres of excellence for innovative pioneering enterprises.

From a peripheral status that long served as a brake to development the district of Wesel has advanced to the centre of one of the largest European economic areas. Optimised infrastructures and synergies have given rise to generous development axes in the European Union - with the Rhine axis the most prominent of these. It is not only used by European inland waterway traffic but is also important for rapid railway connections, motorways, electricity lines, crude oil pipelines and industrial products. The district stretches for 45 km along the left bank of the Rhine and 30 km along the right bank: it therefore has the largest proportion of the Rhine in North Rhine-Westphalia. Four harbours open it out to the transport potential of the largest European inland waterway routes up the Rhine to the inland European markets and down the Rhine to Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Antwerp.