How big is manufacturing in Iowa?

Manufacturing contributed $44.0B to Iowa's economy in 2025, ranking #25 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of Iowa's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 15.9% of Iowa's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% 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 $11.3B (2024), followed by machinery ($9.2B) and chemical products ($8.0B), 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 0.3% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does Iowa make more durable or nondurable goods?

Nondurable goods lead in Iowa: $22.1B versus $21.9B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in Iowa

Manufacturing contributed $44.0B to Iowa's economy in 2025 (15.9% of the state's GDP), ranking Iowa #25 of 51 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output fell 0.8% year over year (-0.3% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is food, beverage, and tobacco products ($11.3B in 2024).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $44.0B in 2025, #25 of 51 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 15.9% of Iowa's GDP.
Growth: -0.8% year over year (-0.3% after inflation).
Composition: $21.9B durable goods, $22.1B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in Iowa

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products: $11.3B (2024)
Machinery: $9.2B (2024)
Chemical Products: $8.0B (2024)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in Iowa? Manufacturing contributed $44.0B to Iowa's economy in 2025, ranking #25 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of Iowa's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 15.9% of Iowa's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% 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 $11.3B (2024), followed by machinery ($9.2B) and chemical products ($8.0B), 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 0.3% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does Iowa make more durable or nondurable goods? Nondurable goods lead in Iowa: $22.1B versus $21.9B 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.