How big is manufacturing in South Carolina?

Manufacturing contributed $48.4B to South Carolina's economy in 2025, ranking #23 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.

What share of South Carolina's economy is manufacturing?

Manufacturing is 12.8% of South Carolina's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% of GDP, so South Carolina is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.

What is the largest manufacturing industry in South Carolina?

Chemical Products leads at $6.5B (2024), followed by motor vehicles and parts ($5.8B) and plastics and rubber products ($5.0B), per BEA state GDP by industry.

Is manufacturing in South Carolina growing?

South Carolina's manufacturing GDP is up 1.2% year over year in dollar terms and up 1.9% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).

Does South Carolina make more durable or nondurable goods?

Durable goods lead in South Carolina: $29.0B versus $19.3B of value added in 2025.

Manufacturing Economy Monitor

Manufacturing in South Carolina

Manufacturing contributed $48.4B to South Carolina's economy in 2025 (12.8% of the state's GDP), ranking South Carolina #23 of 51 states and DC by manufacturing output, per the Bureau of Economic Analysis. Output rose 1.2% year over year (+1.9% after inflation). The state's largest manufacturing industry is chemical products ($6.5B in 2024).

Output and rank

Manufacturing GDP: $48.4B in 2025, #23 of 51 states and DC.
Share of the state economy: 12.8% of South Carolina's GDP.
Growth: +1.2% year over year (+1.9% after inflation).
Composition: $29.0B durable goods, $19.3B nondurable goods.

Largest manufacturing industries in South Carolina

Chemical Products: $6.5B (2024)
Motor Vehicles and Parts: $5.8B (2024)
Plastics and Rubber Products: $5.0B (2024)

Frequently asked questions

How big is manufacturing in South Carolina? Manufacturing contributed $48.4B to South Carolina's economy in 2025, ranking #23 of 51 states and DC, per BEA state GDP data.
What share of South Carolina's economy is manufacturing? Manufacturing is 12.8% of South Carolina's GDP in 2025. Nationally, manufacturing averages 9.4% of GDP, so South Carolina is more manufacturing-intensive than the country as a whole.
What is the largest manufacturing industry in South Carolina? Chemical Products leads at $6.5B (2024), followed by motor vehicles and parts ($5.8B) and plastics and rubber products ($5.0B), per BEA state GDP by industry.
Is manufacturing in South Carolina growing? South Carolina's manufacturing GDP is up 1.2% year over year in dollar terms and up 1.9% after inflation, per the latest BEA annual data (2025).
Does South Carolina make more durable or nondurable goods? Durable goods lead in South Carolina: $29.0B versus $19.3B 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.