Iran’s share in the Middle East’s petrochemical production has risen to 24.5 percent, Director of National Petrochemical Company’s (NPC) Planning and Development Department, Ramazan Ouladi has said.
Mr. Ouladi said Iran has now started paying higher attention to the petrochemical industry, and it launched several petrochemical projects during last calendar year. As a result, NPC’s contribution to the country’s non-oil exports increased to 37.5 percent during the last Iranian calendar that ended on March 20, 2013, FARS News Agency reported.
arlier, Managing Director of NPC Abdolhossein Bayat, who is also the Deputy Oil Minister for Petrochemical Affairs noted that the new projects inaugurated this year would significantly boost the country’s foreign exchange earnings.
Last month, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad launched four petrochemical projects in Bandar Imam petrochemical Complex, in Mahshahr, a city to south-west of Iran. Situated on north-western coast of the Persian Gulf, the Bandar Imam Petrochemical Complex is one of the biggest industrial setup in Iran, and produces products including Propane, Ethane, Butane, and 5- Carbonate or heavier oil fractions.
Over the past few years, Iran has significantly widened the range as well as volume of its petrochemical production. The country currently exports these products to over 60 countries, mainly to Central Asia, Africa, Southeast Asia and Far East countries.
Meanwhile, NPC has established itself as Middle East’s second biggest manufacturer and exporter of petrochemical products, next only to Saudi Arabia.
