Business Sectors
South Carolina’s business sectors are a key component of the State's economic success and allow the Palmetto State to remain competitive. South Carolina has been consistently ranked in the top two Most Business-Friendly States by the Pollina Corporation.
Thanks to the state’s business-friendly environment, a multitude of industry sectors have long found South Carolina provides the perfect complement to their strategic business plan.
South Carolina's major business sectors include:
AEROSPACE
Recognized as a leader in manufacturing in the Southeast (#1 ranking by Business Facilities magazine), South Carolina is putting its expertise to work for the aerospace industry. These companies are widely distributed throughout the state and include Lockheed Martin, General Electric, Honeywell and 3D Systems. In addition, the Global Aeronautica and Vought Aircraft facilities in North Charleston assemble fuselage components for the world’s newest commercial aircraft, the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
AUTOMOTIVE
South Carolina has a strong and thriving automotive industry. The state boasts BMW’s only North American assembly plant, Michelin’s North American headquarters and multiple manufacturing facilities, Daimler AG’s newest Sprinter van assembly plant and American LaFrance’s new corporate headquarters and commercial vehicle manufacturing plant. In addition, more than 200 suppliers support automotive companies in the state, including Bosch, Magna International, INA USA, GKN Driveline, Bridgestone Firestone and Pierburg, Inc.
BIOTECHNOLOGY/PHARMACEUTICALS
South Carolina has an expanding biotech infrastructure comprised of manufacturing, life science-related research and development and service companies. ArborGen, Argolyn Bioscience and Martek Biosciences are successful biotech companies prospering in the state.
South Carolina has an established base of pharmaceutical manufacturers comprised of bulk manufacturers, chemical processors, generic and proprietary drug makers, hygiene product producers and packagers including Bausch & Lomb, Pfizer’s Capsugel, GlaxoSmithKline, Holopack, IRIX Pharmaceuticals, Perrigo and Roche.
DISTRIBUTION
Target, Walgreens, Dollar General, Wal-Mart, International Food House, Shimano and QVC are just some of the companies that have found South Carolina’s strategic East Coast location a competitive advantage for their distribution logistics. With easy access to five interstate highways, 54 general aviation airports, major freight services by air, truck and rail, and the second largest container port (Port of Charleston) on the U.S. Atlantic coast, South Carolina is just a day’s drive from some of the nation’s fastest growing markets.
FOOD PROCESSING
South Carolina has a number of food manufacturers and food processors. The State proudly boasts Starbucks' first roasting and distribution facility in the Southeast. Additional food processing companies located in The Palmetto State include Kraft, Nestlé, Pepperidge Farm, Perdue Farms, SOPAKCO and Tyson Foods.
FORESTRY & WOOD PRODUCTS
South Carolina has more than 270 wood product companies in the state making lumber, plywood, veneer, millwork and other wood products plus more than 150 pulp, paper and paperboard plants. Over $1 billion of these products are exported. Sonoco Products, a global manufacturer of industrial and consumer packaging is headquartered in South Carolina. Other well-known companies include Canfor, Flakeboard, Georgia-Pacific, Grant Forest Products, International Paper, MeadWestvaco and Norbord.
PLASTICS & CHEMICALS
South Carolina is home to a well-established and growing plastics industry that includes both materials production and processing. Many well-known plastic manufacturers and processors have operations in South Carolina, including Fujifilm Manufacturing USA, Inc., 3M, Bayer, BP, Cryovac, DuPont, Eastman Chemical, Nan Ya, Rhodia and Sonoco Products. Eastman Chemical’s South Carolina operation is the largest manufacturer of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) polymer in the United States. Sealed Air’s Cryovac has multiple facilities in South Carolina including a package design and development center, a global production facility for medical containers and delivery systems and several plastics plants.
RECREATION
South Carolinians enjoy a wide array of activities that include boating, yachting, mountain climbing, golfing, riding four-wheelers, swimming, camping, riflery, fishing and the list goes on. Honda's assembly plant for ATVs and recreational watercraft calls South Carolina home, as well as a growing number of other businesses including Beneteau, adidas Group, Shakespeare, Honda, Scout Boats, Sea Ray, Famous Craft Boats, Shimano, Talley Rings and Jarrett Rifles.