Most of the basic chemicals production in the United States is concentrated along the Gulf Coast, where petroleum and natural gas feedstocks are available from refineries. Texas and Louisiana currently produce about 70% of all primary petrochemicals. Production of other products, such as plastics, pharmaceuticals, and fertilizers, is more widely dispersed among the states. Ten states accounted for 62% of chemicals production and 60% of chemical industry employment (626,000 people) in 1996. [CMA 1998]