Mohammad Motaghi, NPC’s Director of Downstream Industry Development,
said increased product offerings have eased competition on the Iran Mercantile
Exchange and Energy Exchange, allowing prices to gradually return to more
normalized levels.
“Part of the demand that remained unmet in recent weeks is now being
supplied, and conditions for downstream industries are gradually moving closer
to normal,” Motaghi said.
According to NPC, petrochemical product availability has improved
significantly compared with the previous month, although market conditions have
not yet fully returned to last year’s equilibrium levels. Motaghi said supply
volumes are expected to increase further in the third week of Khordad and
continue rising as petrochemical complexes complete reconstruction and
operational recovery programs.
The official reported improved availability of polyvinyl chloride
(PVC), adding that supply volumes are expected to increase further over the
next one to two weeks. Two key grades, S60 for medical and healthcare
applications and S65 for pipes, fittings, and industrial uses, are currently
being produced and supplied simultaneously.
Motaghi also said domestic polyethylene demand is largely being met at
volumes comparable to the previous year.
In the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) segment, production volumes
have increased, with textile-grade output resuming alongside bottle-grade
production. He added that capacity expansions at Bou Ali Sina Petrochemical
Company are expected to support higher feedstock availability for textile-grade
PET production at Shahid Tondgouyan Petrochemical Company.
The company said adjustments to industrial allocation quotas by the
Ministry of Industry, Mine and Trade, combined with increased petrochemical
supply, have helped ease raw-material constraints for downstream manufacturers.
Motaghi noted that the policy of calculating base prices using
international benchmark prices prevailing before the conflict period remains in
effect. As a result, petrochemical products traded on commodity and energy
exchanges continue to be priced according to those earlier global reference
levels, with only exchange-rate movements reflected in pricing calculations.
He emphasized that no price increases linked to subsequent changes in
international petrochemical markets have been applied to domestic products and
that pricing policies remain aligned with directives issued by relevant
authorities.
Addressing recent attention on detergent prices, Motaghi said the
petrochemical industry has maintained stable pricing for linear alkylbenzene
(LAB), a key detergent feedstock. He added that all LAB transactions on the
commodity exchange have been completed at base prices without competitive
bidding.
According to NPC, petrochemical producers have fully supplied detergent
manufacturers’ raw-material requirements. While transportation and logistics
challenges have occurred at times, the company said feedstock availability has
remained uninterrupted and no price increases have been implemented for LAB
supplies.