The chemical industry is the third-largest manufacturing sector in Iowa. There are approximately 330 chemical manufacturing plants in Iowa. About 80% of the chemical companies in Iowa are involved with agricultural fertilizers, pesticides, or other ag-related chemicals.
According to the most recent figures available, Iowa’s plastics industry employed nearly 17,000 people in 2005, ranking 21st in the country. Plastics industry shipments in Iowa totalled almost $4 billion in 2005.
Iowa’s plastics industry includes: mold builders, blow molders/ processors, injection molders/ processors, plastic extrusion, plastic fabrication, plastic recycling, resin suppliers, rotational molders/ processors, and thermoform molders/ processors.