How big is manufacturing in Kentucky?

Manufacturing contributed $49.3B to Kentucky's economy in 2025, ranking #22 of 50 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of Kentucky's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 15.7% of Kentucky's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.5% of GDP, so Kentucky is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.

What is the largest manufacturing industry in Kentucky?

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products leads at $11.8B (2025), followed by motor vehicles and parts ($10.1B) and chemical products ($5.0B), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in Kentucky growing?

Kentucky's manufacturing GDP is down 1.0% year over year in dollar terms and up 0.0% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does Kentucky make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in Kentucky: $26.5B versus $22.8B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in Kentucky

Manufacturing contributed $49.3B to Kentucky's economy in 2025 (15.7% of the state's GDP), ranking Kentucky #22 of 50 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output fell 1.0% year over year (+0.0% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is food, beverage, and tobacco products ($11.8B in 2025).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $49.3B in 2025, #22 of 50 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 15.7% of Kentucky's GDP.
Growth: -1% year over year (+0% after inflation).
Composition: $26.5B durable goods, $22.8B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in Kentucky

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products: $11.8B (2025)
Motor Vehicles and Parts: $10.1B (2025)
Chemical Products: $5.0B (2025)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in Kentucky? Manufacturing contributed $49.3B to Kentucky's economy in 2025, ranking #22 of 50 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of Kentucky's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 15.7% of Kentucky's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.5% of GDP, so Kentucky is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.
What is the largest manufacturing industry in Kentucky? Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products leads at $11.8B (2025), followed by motor vehicles and parts ($10.1B) and chemical products ($5.0B), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in Kentucky growing? Kentucky's manufacturing GDP is down 1.0% year over year in dollar terms and up 0.0% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does Kentucky make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in Kentucky: $26.5B versus $22.8B 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.