Digital edition of the first annual guide puts U.S. hemp production, uses of industrial hemp and other key information in one place.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29, 2026—The National Industrial Hemp Council of America (NIHC) today released the inaugural 2026-2027 NIHC Industrial Hemp Annual Market Guide online, providing industry leaders, businesses, policymakers, researchers and international partners with year-round access to one of the most comprehensive resources on the U.S. industrial hemp industry.

The Market Guide debuted in print, on hemp paper, at the 2026 NIHC Global Industrial Hemp Fiber Summit at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, Sept. 16-18. 

“The Market Guide provides a clear picture of where this industry is today, where markets are developing and who is doing the work to move industrial hemp forward,” said Patrick Atagi, NIHC President & CEO. “Making the guide available online allows us to put that information in the hands of more buyers, businesses, researchers and decision-makers around the world. Ultimately, it is another tool for connecting people and building markets for American industrial hemp.”

The guide follows industrial hemp from the field to finished products, with data, industry perspectives and examples of companies and organizations building commercial opportunities across the value chain.

Highlights from the guide include: 

• Total U.S. hemp production was valued at $739 million in 2025, up approximately 66 percent from 2024, with 49,267 open-field acres planted.
• U.S. exports in identifiable hemp fiber, yarn and seed categories increased from approximately $3.26 million in 2024 to $8.19 million in 2025, an increase of about 151 percent.
• Hemp grain production reached 7.26 million pounds in 2025, up 112 percent from the previous year, with a production value of $8.09 million.
• The guide explores growing markets for hemp in textiles and fiber, building materials, food and nutrition, animal feed, bioplastics and biocomposites.
• The publication also highlights advances in research and genetics, testing and compliance, ASTM standards, international market development and Indigenous participation in the hemp economy.

The Market Guide also profiles companies and initiatives demonstrating how U.S. hemp is moving into commercial markets and how growers, processors, manufacturers, researchers and international partners are working together to build stronger supply chains.

Development of the 2026-2027 NIHC Industrial Hemp Annual Market Guide was made possible in part through a grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), supporting NIHC’s work as a USDA international market development cooperator to connect American hemp companies with buyers, manufacturers and partners around the world. 

The 2026-2027 NIHC Industrial Hemp Annual Market Guide is available at https://issuu.com/nihc/docs/nihc_2026-2027_market_guide.

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About the National Industrial Hemp Council of America

The National Industrial Hemp Council is the trusted voice of America’s industrial hemp industry. We bring together growers, processors, manufacturers, and policymakers to build a marketplace based on consistency, transparency, and consumer trust. As a vetted partner of the federal government, we use federal funds to support our mission: to give consumers confidence, provide businesses with clarity, and position U.S. hemp as an essential part of the global economy. We achieve this through guidance from subject matter experts, industry experience, and science-based programs. To foster a thriving global industry, we work with international hemp partners through our membership and participation in the Federation of International Hemp Organizations (FIHO), the Asian Industrial Hemp Federation (AIHF), as well as ASTM International, the American Society for Testing and Materials, and A2LA, the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation.