Mohammadreza Shakeri, chairman of the association’s board, described
machinery manufacturing as the “industry of industries,” noting that it
underpins productivity, innovation, and technological progress across multiple
sectors. “Machinery manufacturing is the most crucial link in the petrochemical
and polymer value chain,” he told NIPNA. “Yet, domestic producers’ share of the
market has dropped from about 70% to nearly 30% due to import-related
rent-seeking.”
Shakeri said a strong machinery industry is essential for achieving
true industrial independence. “Countries capable of building advanced machinery
can also develop aerospace, missile, and nuclear technologies,” he said,
warning that current policies still favor imports over domestic production.
He added that nations such as Germany, Turkey, and India have treated
machinery manufacturing as a strategic sector, investing heavily over the past
two decades to secure long-term industrial growth. “No one becomes a machine
builder in five or ten years; it can take decades of experience,” he said.
According to Shakeri, Iran has more than six decades of experience in
polymer machinery production and remains competitive in several categories.
Iranian producers hold around 70% of the domestic market for mills and
granulators, 60% for blow molding machines, and about 30–35% for injection
machines. However, unregulated imports and subsidized foreign exchange for
importers have sharply eroded local manufacturers’ market share.
“Each industrial machine consists of roughly 3,000 components, making
machinery manufacturing the country’s most employment-intensive industry,”
Shakeri said, adding that fluctuations in exchange rates and raw material costs
have further strained producers. Roughly 25–30% of each machine’s value depends
on imported parts, he noted.
He said informal exports of Iranian polymer machinery to neighboring
countries such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are
already taking place, but “over 90% of these exports are unofficial.” With
proper regulatory and financial support, Shakeri argued, the industry could
become a significant source of foreign exchange, as regional demand for polymer
machinery remains high.
Shakeri concluded that machinery manufacturing is a “strategic
foundation” for Iran’s petrochemical and polymer sectors. “Every gain in speed,
precision, and efficiency originates from machine innovation,” he said. “To
regain its rightful place, the government must adopt a long-term industrial
strategy that recognizes machinery manufacturing as the backbone of a
resilient, value-added petrochemical industry.”