How big is manufacturing in Rhode Island?

Manufacturing contributed $5.4B to Rhode Island's economy in 2025, ranking #44 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of Rhode Island's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 6.5% of Rhode Island's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% of GDP, so Rhode Island is less manufacturing-intensive than the national average.

What is the largest manufacturing industry in Rhode Island?

Other Transportation Equipment leads at $1.2B (2024), followed by chemical products ($816M) and miscellaneous manufacturing ($572M), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in Rhode Island growing?

Rhode Island's manufacturing GDP is down 0.8% year over year in dollar terms and down 0.1% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does Rhode Island make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in Rhode Island: $3.6B versus $1.8B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in Rhode Island

Manufacturing contributed $5.4B to Rhode Island's economy in 2025 (6.5% of the state's GDP), ranking Rhode Island #44 of 51 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output fell 0.8% year over year (-0.1% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is other transportation equipment ($1.2B in 2024).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $5.4B in 2025, #44 of 51 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 6.5% of Rhode Island's GDP.
Growth: -0.8% year over year (-0.1% after inflation).
Composition: $3.6B durable goods, $1.8B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in Rhode Island

Other Transportation Equipment: $1.2B (2024)
Chemical Products: $816M (2024)
Miscellaneous Manufacturing: $572M (2024)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in Rhode Island? Manufacturing contributed $5.4B to Rhode Island's economy in 2025, ranking #44 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of Rhode Island's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 6.5% of Rhode Island's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% of GDP, so Rhode Island is less manufacturing-intensive than the national average.
What is the largest manufacturing industry in Rhode Island? Other Transportation Equipment leads at $1.2B (2024), followed by chemical products ($816M) and miscellaneous manufacturing ($572M), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in Rhode Island growing? Rhode Island's manufacturing GDP is down 0.8% year over year in dollar terms and down 0.1% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does Rhode Island make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in Rhode Island: $3.6B versus $1.8B 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 2026-05-12.