Size and Impact

2026 Size and Impact

This report provides a detailed analysis of the U.S. plastics industry, quantifying its size, growth, geographic distribution, and economic footprint. In 2025, the plastics industry demonstrated structural resilience and maintained its position as the eighth-largest manufacturing sector in the U.S. economy. With 1.7 million jobs powering the U.S. plastics industry—and supporting millions more across the broader economy—it generated $533.6 billion in shipments. Accounting for suppliers to the industry reveals an even larger economic impact. Texas led the nation in plastics industry employment, while Michigan had the highest concentration of plastics industry workers. The industry’s growth in real value added also outpaced that of the overall manufacturing sector. The report examines the industry’s upstream and downstream economic effects and provides a two-year outlook, offering a comprehensive view of an industry that remains a significant contributor to the U.S. economy.