Iran exported petrochemical products valued at $4.684 billion during the first quarter of the current Iranian calendar year (March 21-June 21), the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Customs Administration (IRICA) announced.Foroud Asgari said that 11.133 million tons of petrochemicals was exported during the three-month period, showing 28.7 percent fall in terms of weight, and 24.5 percent drop in terms of value, year on year.As stated by the head of the National Petrochemical Company (NPC), Iran’s annual export of the petrochemicals is anticipated to reach about 34.8 million tons in the current Iranian calendar year (ends on March 2026).Hassan Abbaszadeh also said that the country’s nominal production capacity of petrochemicals is expected to hit 105 million tons in this year.The official has previously emphasized the importance of institutionalizing unity and synergy across the sector to achieve sustainable development, noting that agile, dynamic organizations require efficient and skilled human resources to enhance productivity.The deputy oil minister added that one of the key roles of development-oriented firms is to facilitate private sector investment in petrochemicals. He said the National Petrochemical Company stands ready to support investors in this regard.He called on company managers to actively back the industry during the Year of "Investment for Production" by taking practical steps to address the challenges faced by petrochemical firms.Highlighting the need to accelerate development projects through enhanced financing, Abbaszadeh said that collaboration with petrochemical holding companies could drive production growth this year.He acknowledged last year's challenges in securing feedstock due to energy imbalances but expressed confidence that proper planning and measures could improve the sector’s performance in 2025.Abbaszadeh also credited parliamentary and government support for motivating industry players to pursue expansion strategies and focus on completing the value chain as a key priority.Production in the petrochemical sector increased in the last Iranian year (ended on March 2025) compared to the year before, despite energy imbalances and feedstock shortages, he said, noting that most petrochemical plants achieved their production targets.The National Petrochemical Company’s chief underscored the need to attract new investments and boost production in line with this year’s national motto.Abbaszadeh reiterated the company’s readiness to facilitate private investment and stressed the importance of management’s support for the industry in tackling structural challenges.He said the completion and operation of development projects could be accelerated through improved financial flows, and added that despite last year’s feedstock-related difficulties, coordinated efforts this year could drive better results in the high-value petrochemical sector.The official concluded that strong backing from the Iranian parliament and government has empowered the industry to move forward with determination, focusing on value chain completion as a strategic imperative.In early June, the NPC head had said that under the country’s Seventh National Development Plan, Iran aims to increase its petrochemical production capacity to 131 million tons, adding that this expansion is being pursued across various value chains, with a focus on creating balance between downstream and upstream development.He emphasized that the lack of such balance in recent years has led to feedstock supply issues for several complexes. “Stable feedstock supply is a central pillar of the Seventh Plan, and our goal is to develop production capacity and feedstock sources in parallel,” he added. (ICE TEHERAN)

Fonte notizia: IRNA