Louisiana industry generates over $75 billion annually from chemical manufacturing alone. The state's economy is balanced across agriculture, energy, and major ports.
Key Takeaways
- Louisiana soybean production was 19 million bushels in 2023.
- Louisiana's chemical manufacturing output reached $75 billion in 2022.
- In 2023, Louisiana's crude oil production reached 116 million barrels, ranking second in the U.S. behind Texas.
- Louisiana visitor spending reached $23 billion in 2023.
- Port of South Louisiana handled 240 million tons of cargo in 2023.
Louisiana industries grew modestly in recent data, signaling steady economic momentum for local jobs and businesses.
Related reading
01 · Category
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries25 stats
01
Louisiana soybean production was 19 million bushels in 2023.
02
Rice acreage harvested in Louisiana totaled 425,000 acres in 2023.
03
Louisiana sugarcane yield averaged 38 tons per acre in 2022.
04
Crawfish production reached 55 million pounds in 2023.
05
Louisiana timber harvest volume was 1.2 billion board feet in 2022.
06
Cotton production in Louisiana was 200,000 bales in 2023.
07
Aquaculture sales totaled $150 million in 2022.
08
Louisiana pecan production was 10 million pounds in 2023.
09
Corn for grain yield was 165 bushels per acre in 2022.
10
Forestry supports 60,000 jobs in Louisiana.
11
Shrimp landings were 25 million pounds in 2023.
12
Louisiana cattle inventory is 800,000 head as of 2023.
13
Poultry production value reached $2.5 billion in 2022.
14
Alligator farming produced 300,000 skins in 2023.
15
Soybean yield averaged 45 bushels per acre in 2023.
16
Louisiana forestland covers 14 million acres.
17
Oyster harvest was 12 million pounds in 2022.
18
Sweet potato production totaled 5,000 acres harvested.
19
Dairy milk production was 2.2 billion pounds in 2023.
20
Christmas tree farms cover 10,000 acres in Louisiana.
21
Hay production was 3 million tons in 2022.
22
Catfish farming output 25 million pounds in 2023.
23
Louisiana nursery and greenhouse sales $800 million annually.
24
Peanut production 5 million pounds in 2022.
25
Wildlife management areas span 1.5 million acres.
Interpretation
Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Interpretation
Louisiana’s economy is a remarkably balanced plate, serving up a hearty mix of industry staples—from towering timber and sprawling sugarcane to the state's favorite crustacean, the humble crawfish—all seasoned generously with Southern resourcefulness.
02 · Category
Chemical and Petrochemical Manufacturing25 stats
01
Louisiana's chemical manufacturing output reached $75 billion in 2022.
02
The state hosts 300 petrochemical plants producing 25% of U.S. chemicals.
03
Louisiana ethylene production capacity is 8.5 million tons per year.
04
Chemical industry employment in Louisiana was 85,000 in 2023.
05
The Baton Rouge area produces 1.2 million tons of ammonia annually.
06
Louisiana methanol plants export 4 million tons yearly.
07
Plastics manufacturing output grew 5% to $10 billion in 2022.
08
Louisiana produces 60% of U.S. polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
09
Fertilizer production in Louisiana totals 10 million tons per year.
10
Specialty chemicals exports from Louisiana reached $15 billion in 2023.
11
Lake Charles chemical corridor has 50 plants with $50B investment.
12
Louisiana rubber products manufacturing employed 12,000 in 2022.
13
Polypropylene capacity in Louisiana is 3 million tons annually.
14
Paint and coatings production value was $2.5 billion in 2022.
15
Louisiana's caustic soda production is 1.5 million tons per year.
16
Pharmaceutical chemicals manufacturing grew 3% to $4B in 2023.
17
Louisiana hosts 15% of U.S. chlor-alkali plants.
18
Synthetic dyes and pigments output reached 200,000 tons in 2022.
19
Louisiana's chemical recycling facilities process 500,000 tons of plastics yearly.
20
Adhesives manufacturing value added $1.2 billion in 2023.
21
Louisiana produces 70% of U.S. butadiene.
22
Soap and cleaning compound production was $3B in 2022.
23
Louisiana's petrochemical investments announced $20B since 2020.
24
Inorganic chemical production capacity is 5 million tons.
25
Louisiana exports 40% of its chemical production.
Interpretation
Chemical and Petrochemical Manufacturing Interpretation
While Louisiana might not float your boat with jazz and gumbo alone, this formidable chemical behemoth is quietly cooking up 25% of America's industrial ingredients, employing a small city's worth of people, and exporting its potent recipe to the world.
03 · Category
Energy and Oil & Gas30 stats
01
In 2023, Louisiana's crude oil production reached 116 million barrels, ranking second in the U.S. behind Texas.
02
Louisiana natural gas production in 2022 averaged 9.8 billion cubic feet per day, contributing 6% to U.S. total.
03
The Haynesville Shale in Louisiana produced 85 Bcf of natural gas in Q4 2023, up 12% from prior year.
04
Louisiana refineries processed 2.9 million barrels per day of crude oil in 2023, 18% of U.S. capacity.
05
Over 3,200 active oil and gas wells were drilled in Louisiana in 2022.
06
Louisiana's offshore Gulf of Mexico oil production was 1.2 million barrels per day in 2023.
07
The state holds 5.6 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves as of 2022.
08
Louisiana LNG export terminals exported 1,200 Bcf of gas in 2023.
09
Rig count in Louisiana averaged 45 active rigs in 2023.
10
Louisiana's oil and gas industry employed 248,000 workers in 2022.
11
Proven crude oil reserves in Louisiana stood at 1.1 billion barrels in 2022.
12
Louisiana's carbon capture projects captured 5 million metric tons of CO2 in 2023.
13
The state's pipelines transport 15% of U.S. natural gas interstate.
14
Louisiana wind energy capacity reached 800 MW in 2023.
15
Solar installations in Louisiana generated 2.5 TWh in 2022.
16
Nuclear power from Entergy plants provided 20% of Louisiana's electricity in 2023.
17
Louisiana's ethanol production was 120 million gallons in 2022.
18
Coal consumption for electricity fell to 5% in Louisiana in 2023.
19
Oil rig productivity in Louisiana averaged 500 barrels per day per rig in 2023.
20
Louisiana's shale gas production grew 8% YoY to 3.2 Tcf in 2022.
21
The state issued 1,200 drilling permits in 2023.
22
Louisiana's gas processing plants handled 12 Bcf/day in 2023.
23
Offshore leases produced $2.5 billion in royalties for Louisiana in 2022.
24
Hydrogen production hubs in Louisiana aim for 1.5 Mtpa by 2028.
25
Louisiana geothermal potential estimated at 10 GW.
26
Biofuel refineries in Louisiana produced 50 million gallons of biodiesel in 2023.
27
Louisiana's energy exports via pipelines reached 20 Bcf/day.
28
Fracking accounted for 70% of Louisiana's new wells in 2022.
29
Louisiana oil storage capacity is 150 million barrels.
30
Renewable energy share in Louisiana's mix was 8% in 2023.
Interpretation
Energy and Oil & Gas Interpretation
From its vast oil reserves to booming LNG exports and a stubbornly resilient carbon footprint, Louisiana's energy industry remains a titan of both immense power and profound contradiction, fueling the nation while wrestling with its own evolution.
More related reading
04 · Category
Tourism, Gaming, and Hospitality22 stats
01
Louisiana visitor spending reached $23 billion in 2023.
02
New Orleans hosted 19 million visitors in 2023.
03
Gaming industry revenue $2.8 billion from 26 casinos in 2023.
04
Hotel occupancy in Louisiana averaged 65% in 2023.
05
Louisiana cruise passengers 1.2 million via Port of New Orleans.
06
Tourism employs 236,000 workers in the state.
07
Mardi Gras economic impact $900 million annually.
08
Louisiana state parks attracted 10 million visitors in 2023.
09
Riverboat casinos generated $1.1 billion in 2023.
10
Lodging revenue $5 billion statewide in 2023.
11
Sports tourism events drew 2 million attendees.
12
Louisiana film industry tax credits supported $1B production in 2023.
13
Hotel room inventory 50,000 rooms in 2023.
14
Ecotourism in bayous generated $500 million.
15
Harrah's New Orleans casino revenue $400 million.
16
Food and beverage tourism sales $10 billion.
17
Music festivals like Jazz Fest impact $400 million.
18
Racetracks and OTBs revenue $150 million.
19
Louisiana beaches attract 5 million visitors yearly.
20
Video poker machines 20,000 generating $500M.
21
Heritage tourism sites 1,000+ drawing 8M visitors.
22
Adventure tourism (fishing, hunting) $2B impact.
Interpretation
Tourism, Gaming, and Hospitality Interpretation
Louisiana's unofficial state motto might as well be, "We will happily fund our entire economy by letting you eat our gumbo, dance to our music, try your luck at our games, and explore our swamps, all in one gloriously indulgent trip."
05 · Category
Transportation, Ports, and Logistics23 stats
01
Port of South Louisiana handled 240 million tons of cargo in 2023.
02
Port of New Orleans container throughput was 500,000 TEUs in 2023.
03
Louisiana's inland waterways move 15% of U.S. exports.
04
Port Fourchon services 95% of deepwater Gulf oil production.
05
Louisiana highways carry 500 million tons of freight annually.
06
New Orleans airport (MSY) handled 12 million passengers in 2023.
07
Rail freight in Louisiana totaled 40 million tons in 2022.
08
Lake Charles LNG terminal exports 20 Mtpa.
09
Baton Rouge port grain exports 25 million tons yearly.
10
Louisiana trucking industry employs 120,000 drivers.
11
Shreveport-Bossier logistics hub handles $10B cargo value.
12
Port of Iberia LNG capacity 12 Mtpa under construction.
13
Louisiana barge traffic 600 million tons on Mississippi River.
14
Intermodal facilities in Louisiana process 1 million containers yearly.
15
Lafayette Regional Airport cargo 50,000 tons in 2023.
16
Louisiana's 4,000 miles of pipelines transport 20% U.S. energy.
17
Port of Caddo-Bossier handles 5 million tons bulk cargo.
18
Electric vehicle charging stations grew to 1,000 in 2023.
19
Louisiana air cargo total 300,000 tons annually.
20
West岸 Calcasieu LNG exports projected 10 Mtpa by 2025.
21
Highway freight tonnage 250 million tons on I-10/I-12.
22
Port of St. Bernard chemical shipments 10 million tons.
23
Logistics sector GDP contribution $25 billion in 2022.
Interpretation
Transportation, Ports, and Logistics Interpretation
Louisiana's economy moves like a well-oiled machine, quite literally, as its ports, rivers, highways, and pipelines collectively form the nation's indispensable loading dock, energy switchboard, and breadbasket spigot all in one.
Reference
Cite This Report
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APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). Louisiana Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/louisiana-industry-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "Louisiana Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/louisiana-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "Louisiana Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/louisiana-industry-statistics.
Sources & references
69 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level