Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 10
By Fatih Karimov – Trend:
Iran’s total petrochemical output stood at 4.215 million tons in the fifth Iranian calendar month (July 21-Aug. 21), almost no changed compared to the preceding month, the Iranian oil ministry’s SHANA news agency reported Sept. 10.
The country’s petrochemical output during the first five months of current fiscal year (March 20-Aug. 21) stood at 21.238 million tons.
Bistoun, Oroumieh, Shiraz and Karbon Iran petrochemical companies produced the highest amount compared to other companies in the one-month period.
The petrochemical complexes in Asalouyeh, in southern Bushehr province produced 10 million tons of products, followed by petrochemical complexes in Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone (7.1 million tons).
The country also exported 16.186 million tons of petrochemicals worth $7.462 billion during the five-month period.
Iran’s petrochemicals exports indicate an increase of 55.8 percent in terms of volume and 25.03 percent in terms of value, year-on-year.
Petrochemical products shared 39.05 percent of Iran's total non-oil exports in terms of value during the first five months of current fiscal year.
The country’s actual production capacity is around 61 million tons per annum, but the shortage of natural gas as feedstock, old production units, and the problem of sanctions, which has dropped exports, have caused petrochemical complexes to work at lower capacities.
The Islamic Republic hopes to bring this capacity to 120 million tons by 2020 and 180 million tons by 2025.
Iran produced 46.4 million tons of petrochemical products during the last fiscal year, but for the current year, the figure is planned to reach 54.7 million tons.