Ghodratollah Nasiri, Director of Research, Technology, and Domestic
Production at the National Petrochemical Company, said Iran’s petrochemical
industry accounts for more than 30% of the country’s non-oil exports and has
transformed sanctions from a threat into an opportunity for local capacity
building.
“With decades of investment in regions such as Asaluyeh and Mahshahr,
the industry has developed a broad value chain from hydrocarbon resources to
advanced polymers and chemicals,” Nasiri said. “Sanctions have accelerated
innovation and self-reliance, building on a culture of domestic capability that
dates back to the Iran-Iraq war.”
The sector now works with more than 1,700 domestic knowledge-based
companies and has invested over 12 trillion rials ($285 million) in developing
local production capacity in the past year alone. Projects include the full
domestic production of 29 key chemicals and catalysts by Petrochemical Nouri
and the conversion of methanol to propylene and polypropylene using homegrown
technology.
Nasiri said a five-year plan in collaboration with the Ministry of
Industry, Mining, and Trade aims to gradually replace imported equipment with
locally produced alternatives while meeting strict international safety and
quality standards.
The upcoming Petrochemical Technology Development Roadmap, expected to
be finalized in April 2026, will outline strategies for completing value
chains, deepening domestic production, advancing new technologies, and
enhancing global competitiveness. The roadmap emphasizes innovation systems,
technology planning, and smart manufacturing solutions.
“The objective is clear: to transform sanctions from a warning signal
into a source of domestic strength, fostering the growth of knowledge-based
companies and Iranian industry,” Nasiri said.