The Pharmex exhibition, the country's premier pharmaceutical industry event, opened this week at the Iran Mall Exhibition Center and runs through Thursday, May 15.
Karun's participation underscores a broader national push to reduce dependency on imported pharmaceutical ingredients. Despite Iran’s vast oil and gas reserves and a well-established petrochemical sector, a significant share of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) are still imported.
As Iran’s sole producer of isocyanates and a pioneer in knowledge-based petrochemical production, Karun Petrochemical Company aims to fill this gap. The company produces nitric acid, aniline, and nitrobenzene — three chemicals with wide-ranging applications in the pharmaceutical and hygiene sectors.
The company's nitric acid, produced at 64% purity and at an annual capacity of 92,000 tonnes, is used in nitration processes, synthesis of azo diagnostic dyes, nitrofuran compounds, and production of nitrate salts for pharmaceutical formulations.
Nitrobenzene, with an annual production capacity of 40,000 tonnes, is manufactured through the nitration of benzene using nitric and sulfuric acids. It serves as a precursor to aniline and ultimately to methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), a key component in pharmaceutical and industrial applications. It is notably used in synthesizing para-aminophenol, an essential intermediate in the production of paracetamol (acetaminophen).
Aniline, produced through the catalytic hydrogenation of nitrobenzene, is manufactured at Karun at a capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year. The compound is vital in the production of dyes, sulfanilamide-based drug precursors, and certain antidepressant agents.
Karun Petrochemical stated that its presence at Pharmex reflects a commitment to responsibly supporting Iran’s pharmaceutical supply chain while expanding its product portfolio to serve strategic domestic needs.
The exhibition continues until May 16 at the Iran Mall International Exhibition and Convention Center.