How big is manufacturing in Arkansas?

Manufacturing contributed $25.5B to Arkansas's economy in 2025, ranking #32 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of Arkansas's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 12.9% of Arkansas's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% of GDP, so Arkansas is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.

What is the largest manufacturing industry in Arkansas?

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products leads at $5.6B (2024), followed by primary metals ($3.6B) and fabricated metal products ($2.5B), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in Arkansas growing?

Arkansas's manufacturing GDP is up 0.9% year over year in dollar terms and up 1.8% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does Arkansas make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in Arkansas: $14.0B versus $11.6B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in Arkansas

Manufacturing contributed $25.5B to Arkansas's economy in 2025 (12.9% of the state's GDP), ranking Arkansas #32 of 51 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output rose 0.9% year over year (+1.8% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is food, beverage, and tobacco products ($5.6B in 2024).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $25.5B in 2025, #32 of 51 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 12.9% of Arkansas's GDP.
Growth: +0.9% year over year (+1.8% after inflation).
Composition: $14.0B durable goods, $11.6B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in Arkansas

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products: $5.6B (2024)
Primary Metals: $3.6B (2024)
Fabricated Metal Products: $2.5B (2024)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in Arkansas? Manufacturing contributed $25.5B to Arkansas's economy in 2025, ranking #32 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of Arkansas's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 12.9% of Arkansas's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% of GDP, so Arkansas is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.
What is the largest manufacturing industry in Arkansas? Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products leads at $5.6B (2024), followed by primary metals ($3.6B) and fabricated metal products ($2.5B), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in Arkansas growing? Arkansas's manufacturing GDP is up 0.9% year over year in dollar terms and up 1.8% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does Arkansas make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in Arkansas: $14.0B versus $11.6B of value added in 2025.

About this data

Source: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (public domain). National quarterly values are seasonally adjusted annual rates. Corporate-profit industry detail reflects inventory valuation adjustment without capital consumption adjustment, per NIPA table 6.16D conventions.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.