Jafar Ghaderi, a member of the Iranian Parliament’s Economic
Commission, said the petrochemical sector has become a stable and
value-generating part of the economy and could accelerate broader development
if its expansion continues at pace.
“The petrochemical industry plays a very important role in the
development process,” Ghaderi said in comments to NIPNA. He described the
sector as the “locomotive” of economic development, arguing that stronger
performance by petrochemical producers could help move the country’s wider
industrial economy forward.
Focus Shifts to Higher-Value Products
Ghaderi said Iran should place greater emphasis on completing the
petrochemical value chain and facilitating the production and export of
finished and higher-value products.
The approach is consistent with the goals of Iran’s so-called
resistance economy, which emphasizes domestic production, greater use of local
resources and reducing dependence on exports of unprocessed commodities.
The petrochemical industry has already been among the leading sectors
in efforts to curb the export of raw materials, Ghaderi said, adding that
existing capacity across different parts of the industry should be used more
extensively.
Expanding downstream industries could allow Iran to capture more value
from its hydrocarbon resources while creating additional opportunities for
industrial production and exports.
Development Continues Despite Sanctions
Ghaderi also pointed to the continued development of petrochemical
projects despite restrictions linked to international sanctions, describing the
sector’s project pipeline as evidence of its resilience.
The comments underscore the strategic importance Tehran places on
petrochemicals as a bridge between its hydrocarbon resources and a broader
industrial base. The sector has increasingly been viewed not only as an
exporter of chemical products, but also as a platform for developing downstream
manufacturing and reducing the economy’s exposure to crude and raw-material
exports.
Ghaderi said parliamentary support for the petrochemical industry
would continue, emphasizing the need to make better use of the sector’s
existing capabilities and sustain its development momentum.