Habibollahzadeh noted that Turkey is one of the world’s
leading importers of petrochemical products, ranking second globally in the
import of pure petrochemical products and polypropylene, and second in plastic
production in Europe. He also pointed out Turkey’s substantial imports in 2023,
including $70 billion in oil and gas condensates, $9 billion in organic
chemicals, and $2.5 billion each in inorganic chemicals and chemical
fertilizers.
The ambassador stressed that Turkey processes and adds value
to imported petrochemical products before re-exporting them. In 2022, Turkey
imported, processed, and exported approximately $33 billion worth of
petrochemical materials. Despite this, Turkey’s annual petrochemical exports
stand at around $1.5 billion, while imports range between $11 billion and $13
billion, with an annual demand of about 10 million tons of petrochemical
products.
Habibollahzadeh underscored the ongoing negotiations to
expand petrochemical trade relations between Iran and Turkey, advocating for
the reduction of intermediaries and the establishment of direct sales offices
by Iranian companies in Turkey. He suggested that such measures would not only
streamline trade but also enhance bilateral economic cooperation through joint
investments.