Mexican oil faces a quality crisis that has created tensions with United States refineries.
In recent weeks, several American companies have rejected Pemex crude shipments because they contain high levels of water and salt. This affects the refining processes and increases operational costs.
Pemex
Refineries in Texas and Louisiana warn of risks
Since December 2024, refineries in Texas and Louisiana have notified Mexican authorities about this issue.
The contaminated oil can cause damage to refining infrastructure, reduce plant efficiency, and generate additional expenses in maintenance and product filtering.
The government of Claudia Sheinbaum has assured that Pemex is working to solve the problem. However, the crisis has already impacted the trade relationship with the U.S., which has started buying crude from other countries like Colombia and Canada.
A problem that has been ongoing for months
This crisis is not new. Since mid-2024, specialists have warned that the lack of maintenance in Pemex facilities could affect crude quality.
The high presence of water and salt in the oil is due to problems in the storage and transportation of the hydrocarbon.
Petróleo
Some experts warn that budget cuts in the state company have limited investments in infrastructure. This has created problems that now affect its export capacity.
The impact on exports and the Mexican economy
Mexico heavily depends on oil exports to finance its social programs and infrastructure projects.
The decline in demand for Mexican crude by United States represents a risk to public finances.
According to the Ministry of Energy, crude exports have decreased by 5% in recent months. If the trend continues, Mexico could lose a significant part of its market in the U.S., which would mean a reduction of billions of dollars annually in oil revenues.
