How big is manufacturing in Kentucky?

Manufacturing contributed $48.8B to Kentucky's economy in 2025, ranking #22 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of Kentucky's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 15.9% of Kentucky's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% 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 $11.0B (2024), followed by motor vehicles and parts ($10.7B) and chemical products ($4.8B), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in Kentucky growing?

Kentucky's manufacturing GDP is down 0.3% year over year in dollar terms and up 0.7% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does Kentucky make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in Kentucky: $27.2B versus $21.6B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in Kentucky

Manufacturing contributed $48.8B to Kentucky's economy in 2025 (15.9% of the state's GDP), ranking Kentucky #22 of 51 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output fell 0.3% year over year (+0.7% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is food, beverage, and tobacco products ($11.0B in 2024).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $48.8B in 2025, #22 of 51 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 15.9% of Kentucky's GDP.
Growth: -0.3% year over year (+0.7% after inflation).
Composition: $27.2B durable goods, $21.6B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in Kentucky

Food, Beverage, and Tobacco Products: $11.0B (2024)
Motor Vehicles and Parts: $10.7B (2024)
Chemical Products: $4.8B (2024)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in Kentucky? Manufacturing contributed $48.8B to Kentucky's economy in 2025, ranking #22 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of Kentucky's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 15.9% of Kentucky's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% 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 $11.0B (2024), followed by motor vehicles and parts ($10.7B) and chemical products ($4.8B), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in Kentucky growing? Kentucky's manufacturing GDP is down 0.3% year over year in dollar terms and up 0.7% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does Kentucky make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in Kentucky: $27.2B versus $21.6B 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.