The National Petrochemical Company earned $3.1 billion in export revenues during the first quarter of the current fiscal year (March 21-June 21).
According to NIPNA, the official news agency of NPC, exports amounted to 5.3 million tons in the period.
Pars Special Economic Energy Zone in the southern Bushehr Province and Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in Khuzestan Province produced 2.7 million tons and 1.5 million tons of commodities respectively. The former earned $1.6 billion and the latter netted $886 million in revenues.
Petrochemical production in other regions stood at 1 million tons, which earned $636 million during the period.
Close to $40 million of petrochem products were sold domestically in the three-month period.
Reportedly, Zagros Petrochemical Company in PSEEZ experienced the highest output at 732,000 tons in three months, yet Nouri Petrochemical Company generated the highest profit at $441 million.
In MPSEZ, Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company took the lead by producing 521,000 tons.
In other regions, Kharg Petrochemical Company, a quasi-private company, ranked first by exporting $110 million worth of products.
--- Output Capacity
Iran's 57 petrochemical complexes produced over 13.2 million tons between March 21 and June 21.
Nominal output capacity stands at 62 million tons of petrochemicals per year, while actual production is expected to reach about 60 million tons by March 2019.
Most Iranian petrochemical infrastructures are in southern regions close to the Persian Gulf where water supply is less of a concern and proximity to international water makes transport and shipment more cost-effective.
Some 20 petrochemical complexes, located in the city of Mahshahr, have had a combined output of more than 4.5 million tons in the period.
Nominal production capacity of petrochemical plants in Mahshahr amounts to 25.6 million tons.
Production from 16 complexes in PSEEZ in Asalouyeh hit 5.8 million tons in the period. The nominal capacity of Asalouyeh complexes is estimated at 32.7 million tons per year.
Other petrochemical complexes produced a total of 2.7 million tons in three months. The report added that the complexes’ output is predicted to reach 11.4 million tons by March 2019.
Production in May 22-June 21 stood at 4.5 million tons.
--- New Complex
According to Mahmoud Makhdoumi, managing director of Tamin Petroleum and Petrochemical Investment Company (TAPPICO), plans are underway to build a new petrochemical complex in Bojnord, the capital city of North Khorasan Province, adjacent to the old plant.
"The initiative is estimated to cost $670 million," he said, adding that TAPPICO owns a 80% stake in the complex and the rest will be held by Petrofarhang Holding.
Dismissing speculations that the new plant will produce propylene, the official said similar to Khorasan Petrochemical Company, the new plant will also manufacture urea and ammonia.
"The venture is expected to become operational in four years," he said, noting that 80% of the budget will be supplied from the National Development Fund of Iran and shareholders will account for the remaining 20%, of which 16% will be provided by TAPPICO.
On challenges of meeting the plant's high water demand, Makhdoumi said a BOT (build-operate-transfer) contract has been concluded with a domestic firm to collect and transfer Bojnord's wastewater to the plant.
Established in 1992, Khorasan Petrochemical Complex consists of ammonia, urea and melamine units, with annual production capacities of 330,000 tons, 465,000 tons and 20,000 tons respectively.
This complex feeds on natural gas and its urea and ammonia units consume 258 million cubic meters of gas annually.
