Petrochemical
Petrochemicals are essential to modern living—enabling products that support health, safety and sustainability, from medical devices and packaging to insulation and lightweight vehicles. They are also the building blocks for plastics, which are critical to countless applications in healthcare, transportation, technology and consumer goods. As innovation drives new uses for both petrochemicals and plastics, these materials will continue to fuel economic growth and support a more sustainable future.
While AFPM members continue to invest in new technologies to meet rising petrochemical and plastics demand, they are also committed to investing in technologies, processes and products that will increase plastics recycling and reduce plastic waste in the environment.
Powering our Economy
The U.S. petrochemical manufacturing industry plays a critical role in America’s economy—generating more than $57 billion in labor income and contributing over $180 billion to the national economy. With more than 619,000 American jobs supported by petrochemical manufacturers, the industry helps sustain communities, support families and fund essential services.
In 2024, the industry’s jobs multiplier reached 15, highlighting its broad economic reach. For every job inside a petrochemical facility, 14 additional jobs are supported across the economy.
Driving U.S. Petrochemical Leadership
The United States is a leader in the production of ethylene and propylene—two of the most essential building blocks of products that make modern life possible. We are advantaged over our global competitors due to our access to abundant, reliable and, in some cases, low-cost domestic feedstocks like ethane and propane—critical components of these vital chemicals.
This edge is reinforced by the Gulf Coast’s integrated logistics infrastructure, where pipelines streamline material movement and ports provide direct access to global markets—making the United States a critical hub for petrochemical trade worldwide.
U.S. Olefin Production and Capacity
What are olefins?
Ethylene and propylene are olefins. Olefins (or alkenes) are molecules made of hydrogen and carbon atoms; they have at least one pair of carbon atoms connected by a double bond. The carbon–carbon double bond is less stable than a single bond, so it reacts easily with other chemicals. This reactivity allows olefins to be transformed into many useful products.
- Ethylene (C2H4) is the simplest olefin, with one double bond between two carbon atoms.
- Propylene (C3H6) also has a double bond—specifically between the first and second carbon atoms—which makes it an olefin.
They are key building blocks in the petrochemical industry and are used to produce plastics, synthetic fibers and many other products.
U.S. Exports of Key Petrochemicals
Strong global demand for ethane—an essential feedstock for producing ethylene and plastics—continues to rise. As the only major exporter capable of shipping ethane by sea, the United States holds a pivotal position in sustaining global petrochemical supply chains. Beyond ethane, U.S. production and exports of ethylene and propylene are vital to meeting international demand for packaging, construction materials and advanced products.
Addressing Chemical Risks
The petrochemical industry’s commitment to safety extends beyond production to continuous improvement of chemical safety, environmental stewardship and operational excellence.
In the United States, these efforts are guided by rigorous oversight from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which reviews and manages risk under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Through data-driven risk management and advanced testing protocols, the industry works in partnership with regulators to protect people and the planet while delivering the materials that millions rely on every day.
