Why the St. Louis Region?
Whether you are sourcing raw materials or manufacturing metals products, the St. Louis region boasts a strategic position in the United States, offering economically viable rare earth elements, unparalleled transportation access, and a skilled workforce cultivated by leading technical institutions. Establishing your metals manufacturing or transportation operation in the St. Louis region ensures efficiency, abundant energy resources, innovation, and sustained growth opportunities within a dynamic industrial landscape.
Key Existing Sub‑Sectors
- Copper supplier Wieland broke ground on a $500 million expansion at its East Alton, Illinois, facility in March 2025 that will retain 800 jobs in the region. The investment supports continued growth in the metals sector as Wieland, which manufactures crucial products for the burgeoning electric vehicle industry, contributes to the nearly 16,000 metals industry workers in the region.
- Missouri is one of only 10 states to have potentially economically viable rare earth element deposits, which are minerals in the Earth’s crust that are critical components in a wide range of modern technologies, including smartphones, wind turbines, electric vehicles, and military equipment.
- According to the most recent available data from the U.S. International Trade Administration, Minerals and Ores are among the top 5 largest export categories in the region.
- The St. Louis region has about twice as many iron and steel mill employees as other similar-sized markets.
Our Advantages
- The metro area is ranked 3rd in the U.S. for minerals and ores exports, which primarily includes metals and metal products.
- The region exported more than $15 billion in minerals and ores from 2014 to 2024, according to the International Trade Administration.
- 1st in the nation for on-the-job training programs
- 3rd in the nation for completed internships
- Nearly 16,000 skilled workers in the Metals Manufacturing industry
In Good Company
