Press release submitted on behalf of PLASTICS.
The U.S. plastics industry remains a key player in global trade, accounting for more than $147 billion in trade, according to the Plastics Industry Association’s (PLASTICS) newly released 2026 Global Trends Report.
The annual report examines U.S. plastics industry trade performance in 2025 and provides an outlook on the global plastics marketplace for 2026 and beyond. Analyzing exports, imports, trade balances, market shares, production and consumption, the report provides insight into the trade dynamics and economic trends shaping the global plastics industry.
Key findings from the report include:
- $147.5 billion in trade connects U.S. plastics to markets around the world.
- The U.S. plastics industry ranked second in the 2025 Global Plastics Ranking®, based on trade volume estimates across machinery, molds, materials and products.
- Domestic shipments increased an estimated 1.2% in 2025 to $358.4 billion, with exports accounting for 20.5% of shipments.
- Mexico and Canada remained the largest export destinations for U.S. plastics, with exports totaling $19.2 billion and $13.5 billion, respectively.
- Mexico represented the industry’s largest trade surplus at $10.8 billion, followed by Belgium and Brazil.
“The United States remains a global leader in plastics manufacturing and trade, supported by an industry that continues to innovate, compete and grow,” said Matt Seaholm, PLASTICS President and CEO. “American plastics manufacturers are strengthening supply chains, driving economic growth and meeting demand around the world. As the only comprehensive analysis of U.S. plastics trade with the rest of the world, the Global Trends report underscores the strength of our industry and the opportunities ahead.”
“For the plastics industry, the world is the market. Evolving trade patterns, economic conditions and investment decision continue to reshape global trade relationships and create new market opportunities,” said Dr. Perc Pineda, PLASTICS Chief Economist. “The United States’ ability to maintain its second-place ranking reflects its significant role in international plastics trade. Its established relationships with major trading partners demonstrate the importance of international plastics trade to the industry’s continued growth. Understanding these trends is essential for businesses navigating market shifts and identifying opportunities.”
The 2026 Global Trends Report complements PLASTICS’ Size and Impact Report, released earlier this year, offering an international perspective on the U.S. plastics industry’s economic performance and competitiveness.
Read the Global Trends Report Executive Summary here or request a copy of the full report by emailing Allie Richardson at arichardson@plasticsindustry.org.
The Plastics Industry Association (PLASTICS) supports the entire plastics supply chain, including Equipment Suppliers, Material Suppliers, Processors, and Recyclers, representing over one million workers in our $533.6 billion U.S. industry. PLASTICS advances the priorities of our members who are dedicated to investing in technologies that improve capabilities and advances in recycling and sustainability and providing essential products that allow for the protection and safety of our lives. Since 1937, PLASTICS has been working to make its members, and the eighth largest U.S. manufacturing industry, more globally competitive while supporting circularity through educational initiatives, industry-leading insights and events, convening opportunities and policy advocacy, including the largest plastics trade show in the Americas, NPE: The Plastics Show.