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Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Vlad Khaustovich Vlad Khaustovich New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 32521

Revenue

$103.9bn

2024

$103.9bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$X.Xbn

Employees

81,717

Businesses

955

Wages

$X.Xbn

Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry analysis

The plastic and resin manufacturing industry has experienced significant price fluctuations, with prices soaring in 2021 and remaining elevated since then, driven by supply chain disruptions and surging commodity costs. Although prices moderated in 2023, prices are expected to trend flat to upward through 2024, aligning with rising producer price indices and global energy price projections. Demand for plastic and resin is expected to remain soft in 2024 due to sluggish manufacturing activity and economic softness. The volatility in sales stemming from significant price swings and supply chain disruptions shows ongoing challenges for the industry, contributing to an estimated 0.9% CAGR revenue decline over the past five years, reaching $103.9 billion by 2024.

Trends and Insights

  • The industry has faced price volatility, driven by supply chain disruptions and fluctuating demand. The outlook for 2024 suggests soft demand.
  • Soft demand from the manufacturing sector is expected to continue in 2024. Global economic softness will potentially lead to reduced inventories and impact demand for plastics and resins.
  • Manufacturers are located near suppliers and downstream buyers. This can make it more cost-effective for manufacturers when they need to purchase raw materials and make it easier to sell products to manufacturing industries and the construction sector.
  • Price is the main form of competition in the industry. Large manufacturers may own their own supply distributors, helping to reduce costs and price products more competitively.

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  • Critical performance data and rankings
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 0.9 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $103.9bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Plastic and resin prices skyrocketed in 2021 and have remained elevated since then

  • The producer price index (PPI) for plastic and resin manufacturing increased by 33% in 2021, contributing to historically high industry growth in the same year. Strong growth in prices was driven primarily by supply chain disruptions, contributing to higher commodity prices.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Higher demand for plastic and resin will be partly offset by lower prices

  • Domestic demand for plastic and resin is anticipated to increase as the overall economy expands. This growth will be fueled in part by the Federal Reserve's actions to lower interest rates, making borrowing more affordable for businesses and consumers. Reduced borrowing costs will lead to increased investment and consumption across various industries, including those that utilize plastic and resin products.

Biggest companies in the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
Dow Inc.
10,730.1
1,155.7
10.8
Lyondellbasell Industries N.V.
9,564.3
663.1
6.9
Braskem Sa
5,167.0
113.1
2.2

To view the market share and analysis for all 3 top companies in this industry, view purchase options.

Products & Services Segmentation

Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Thermoplastic resins and plastic materials, polyethylene, Other thermoplastics and Thermosetting resins and plastic materials. Thermoplastic resins and plastic materials, polyethylene is the largest segment of the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US.

Trends and Insights

Thermoplastic products are associated with reduced plastic waste, as compared to thermosetting materials, thus benefitting from consumer preferences for eco-friendly products

  • Thermoplastic resins and plastics offer greater flexibility than thermoset materials, allowing for a wider range of shapes to be molded. Additionally, their recyclability makes them a more sustainable choice.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

This industry manufactures resins such as thermosetting and thermoplastic resins, plastic materials (i.e. polymers) and synthetic rubber. Raw material inputs are sourced from industries involved in chemical manufacturing and the production of petroleum-based feedstock.

What's included in this industry?

Thermoset resin manufacturingThermoplastic resin manufacturingSynthetic rubber manufacturingPolyethylene resin manufacturingPolypropylene resin manufacturing

Companies

Dow Inc.Lyondellbasell Industries N.V.Braskem Sa

Purchase this report to view all 3 major companies in this industry.

Related Terms

POLYETHYLENERESINSPOLYMERPOLYPROPYLENETHERMOPLASTICTHERMOSET

Industry Code

NAICS 2017

NAICS 32521 - Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

The industry has faced price volatility, driven by supply chain disruptions and fluctuating demand. The outlook for 2024 suggests soft demand.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Soft demand from the manufacturing sector is expected to continue in 2024. Global economic softness will potentially lead to reduced inventories and impact demand for plastic...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets
  • International Trade

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level
  • Total imports, level and trend
  • Total exports, level and trend
  • Trade Balance

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024
  • International trade, including imports by country and exports by country

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services
  • Recent trends in import and export volumes, country of origin or destination, and expected future trends

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Manufacturers are located near suppliers and downstream buyers. This can make it more cost-effective for manufacturers when they need to purchase raw materials and make it ea...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each state
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each state in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each state accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each state in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Price is the main form of competition in the industry. Large manufacturers may own their own supply distributors, helping to reduce costs and price products more competitivel...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

Major players are increasingly investing in recycling technologies. Efforts are focused on reducing the carbon footprint, enhancing recycling rates and creating a closed-loop...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of Dow Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Lyondellbasell Industries N.V.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024
  • Overview of Braskem Sa's performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for Dow Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Lyondellbasell Industries N.V., and factors influencing its performance in the industry
  • Description and key data for Braskem Sa, and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Many plastic manufacturing operations generate hazardous air pollutants during the application and curing of thermostat resins. State and federal agencies regulate these emis...

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Products are tied to the price of raw materials. When crude oil and natural gas prices rise, inputs typically become more expensive, leading to rising purchasing costs for ma...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Industry Multiples (2017-2022)
  • Industry Tax Structure (2017-2022)
  • Income Statement (2017-2022)
  • Balance Sheet (2017-2022)
  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States in 2024?

The market size of the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is $103.9bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in 2024?

There are 955 businesses in the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States, which has declined at a CAGR of 0.5 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States has been declining at a CAGR of 0.9 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US market in United States?

The biggest companies operating in the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing market in United States are Dow Inc., Lyondellbasell Industries N.V. and Braskem Sa

What does the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US in United States include?

Thermoset resin manufacturing and Thermoplastic resin manufacturing are part of the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US in United States?

The company holding the most market share in United States is Dow Inc..

How competitive is the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States?

The level of competition is moderate and increasing in the Plastic & Resin Manufacturing in the US industry in United States.

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Methodology

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Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in the US include: 

  • US Census Bureau
  • US Bureau of Labor Statistics
  • US International Trade Commission

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

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IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

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