It is an important industrial, automotive, metallurgical, and tourist center, and headquarters of the world's second-largest military complex, the Academia Militar das Agulhas Negras (AMAN).

Resende is crossed by Rodovia Presidente Dutra, the most important Brazilian road, also called Rio - São Paulo.

Resende's main economy is coffee and milk in the agricultural sector, uranium refining, vehicle manufacturing, which includes Volkswagen Truck & Bus and Nissan do Brasil factories.

Resende contains the headquarters of TV Rio Sul, an affiliate of Globo Network Television and a lot of stores that are represented by CDL Resende-Itatiaia.

Tourist attractions near Resende include Visconde de Mauá and Penedo, two small villages with restaurants, inns and cottages, and the first Brazilian National Park, called Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (PNI).