How big is manufacturing in Iowa?

Manufacturing contributed $45.7B to Iowa's economy in 2025, ranking #24 of 50 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of Iowa's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 16.8% of Iowa's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.5% of GDP, so Iowa is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.

What is the largest manufacturing industry in Iowa?

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products leads at $11.5B (2025), followed by machinery ($9.9B) and chemical products ($8.3B), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in Iowa growing?

Iowa's manufacturing GDP is down 0.8% year over year in dollar terms and down 1.7% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does Iowa make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in Iowa: $23.2B versus $22.5B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in Iowa

Manufacturing contributed $45.7B to Iowa's economy in 2025 (16.8% of the state's GDP), ranking Iowa #24 of 50 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output fell 0.8% year over year (-1.7% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is food, beverage, and tobacco products ($11.5B in 2025).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $45.7B in 2025, #24 of 50 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 16.8% of Iowa's GDP.
Growth: -0.8% year over year (-1.7% after inflation).
Composition: $23.2B durable goods, $22.5B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in Iowa

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products: $11.5B (2025)
Machinery: $9.9B (2025)
Chemical Products: $8.3B (2025)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in Iowa? Manufacturing contributed $45.7B to Iowa's economy in 2025, ranking #24 of 50 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of Iowa's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 16.8% of Iowa's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.5% of GDP, so Iowa is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.
What is the largest manufacturing industry in Iowa? Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products leads at $11.5B (2025), followed by machinery ($9.9B) and chemical products ($8.3B), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in Iowa growing? Iowa's manufacturing GDP is down 0.8% year over year in dollar terms and down 1.7% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does Iowa make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in Iowa: $23.2B versus $22.5B 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 2026-10-01.