TEHRAN - Iran has exported $3.7 billion worth of petrochemicals in the first five months of the current Iranian calendar year (began March 20, 2008) and officials project it will hit $8.5 billion by the end of the year, the deputy director of National Petrochemical Company (NPC) said here on Friday.

Talking to MNA, Reza Afshin added, “During the past few years the foreign investors have invested about $1.5 billion in Iran’s petrochemical industry.”
“Currently Jam, Aria Sasol and Farsa Shimi petrochemical complexes have started their initial production phase and will be inaugurated later. Laleh and Karoon units also will be completed in the near future,” he explained while adding that 12 petrochemical units will certainly come on stream by the end of the current Iranian calendar year.
He went on to note that so far some contracts with foreign companies have been finalized and stated, “At present we are holding negotiations with Malaysian and Venezuelan companies.