Plastic Products Manufacturers NAICS 3261
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Industry Summary
The 7,100 plastic product manufacturers in the US process plastic materials and produce parts and finished goods for a variety of end uses. Product categories include packaging material; fabricated shapes and plates; polystyrene foam products; urethane and other foam products; bottles; plumbing fixtures; and resilient floor coverings.
Cyclical Demand
Because plastic products are commonly used in a wide variety of industries and goods, economic conditions can affect demand.
Volatile Raw Materials Costs
Conventional plastic is a petroleum and natural gas byproduct and the cost of plastic or resin is affected by variability in the price of crude oil.
Recent Developments
Sep 27, 2025 - Tariffs on PET
- As of September 8, imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and recycled PET (rPET) are subject to full tariffs, Plastics Today reports. Previously, the materials, used in packaging and fabrics, were exempt from the heightened tariffs. Now, reciprocal tariffs on PET and rPET range from 15% on Turkey to 35% for Canada, according to business intelligence organization ICIS. The Asia Pacific region faces tariffs in the 20% range and India could face tariffs as high as 50%, according to S&P Global. Over the last three years, the US rPET market has been overwhelmed by international supply, according to ICIS, and one domestic producer it cited said its PET sales volume has dropped 10% year-on-year. As a result of the reciprocal tariffs, imported flake prices could jump 8-10 cents per pound and imported pellets could soar as much as 10-14 cents per pound, per ICIS.
- Reversing his predecessor’s attempt to reduce consumption of non-biodegradable single-use plastics, President Trump has signed an executive order aimed at encouraging the federal government and consumers to buy plastic drinking straws, Reuters reports. The US government is the biggest buyer of plastic straws. Trump’s EO directs federal agencies to make sure that “paper straws are no longer provided” in agency buildings. The alternative – paper straws – according to the president “don’t work.” Trump has also rescinded a Biden administration policy to end the use of all single-use plastic products on federal lands by 2032.
- On his first day in office, President Trump renewed his promise to impose tariffs on imports to the US, saying he planned to put a 25% tariff on products from Canada and Mexico and an additional 10% tariff on Chinese goods on February 1, The New York Times reports. The US is a net importer of plastic products, with China, Canada, and Mexico accounting for about 64% of plastic product imports and 66% of US exports. Tariff hikes would make it more expensive for manufacturers to import needed components and raw materials, particularly from China and disrupt supply chains for US manufacturers. If the US’s three largest trading partners respond with retaliatory tariffs, it would make US exports more expensive and less attractive on the global market. However, it’s not clear if Trump will follow through on his tariff threats or what products would be affected.
- Producer prices for plastic products manufacturers inched up 0.5% in August compared to a year ago, after rising 1% in the previous August-versus-August annual comparison, according to the latest US Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Producer prices for plastic products manufacturers have stalled despite rising sales. Employment by plastics manufacturers slipped 0.7% year over year in July, while average wages at plastics and rubber product manufacturers continued to climb, up 3.9% YoY in August, to $25.61 per hour, a penny short of their record high in June, BLS data show.
Industry Revenue
Plastic Products Manufacturers
Industry Structure
Industry size & Structure
A typical plastic products manufacturer employs about 83 workers and generates about $35.4 million annually.
- The plastic products manufacturing industry consists of 7,100 companies, employs 592,500 workers, and generates over $251.9 billion annually.
- The industry is fairly fragmented, with the 50 largest firms representing just 33% of industry revenue.
- Primary end-use markets include packaging, consumer and institutional, and building and construction. Other markets include transportation, electrical and electronics, furniture and furnishings, and industrial machinery.
- Individual companies may specialize according to end-use, process, or material. Many companies may act as suppliers to OEMs, such as auto or aircraft manufacturers.
- Large companies include Berry Global, Pactiv Evergreen Corp., and Graham Packaging.
- Of the more than 400 million tons of plastic produced each year, only about 10% of is recycled, according to the United Nations Environment Program.
Industry Forecast
Industry Forecast
Plastic Products Manufacturers Industry Growth
Source: Vertical IQ and Inforum
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