Washington, D.C. — The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) Chief Economist, Dr. Perc Pineda, today released a new economic analysis examining how shifts in U.S. trade and tariff policy are shaping the plastics sector’s economic footprint. The analysis highlights the industry’s $550.1 billion in shipments, more than 1.7 million American jobs supported, and over $78 billion in exports, with a state-by-state breakdown of employment and export activity.
Dr. Pineda writes, “Taken together, these data illustrate the breadth and depth of the U.S. plastics industry’s impact—both domestically and internationally. The industry not only provides over 1.7 million direct and supplier-supported jobs but also drives hundreds of thousands of additional positions through exports and related economic activity. States contribute in different ways, whether through production, strategic logistics, or access to key export markets such as Mexico. Understanding these dynamics underscores the importance of supporting the plastics supply chain, trade policies that enable competitiveness, and investments that strengthen U.S. manufacturing for sustained employment and economic growth.”
Click here to read the full analysis on the PLASTICS blog.
About the Plastics Industry Association
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $551 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show.
