Mexico and PEMEX and rumors of a Trump ban on US diesel exports

MONTERREY, MEXICO (By Isaac Silvestre, Editores Latin Petroleum, 4.Oct.2026, Words: 430) — Mexico imports nearly 40% of its diesel consumption from a single market: the US. 

Although the US is the world’s largest refiner, declining global production and high crude oil prices have driven up diesel prices, the daily El País reported on 4 Oct. 2026.  

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To contain prices, US president Donald Trump threatened last week to ban US diesel exports, and recently the G7, the group of the world’s 7 largest economies (Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, and the SS), agreed to release 100 million barrels (MMbbls) from strategic reserves of oil and diesel over the next 4 months to try to ease pressure on fuel prices. 

Following this decision, Trump declared he would no longer impose the export ban.

Mexico’s diesel imports

While awaiting the fulfillment of Trump’s most recent promise or threat, the potential veto on US diesel exports has raised alarms in Mexico and exposed the weaknesses of state-owned PEMEX‘ refining system. 

Although the Dos Bocas refinery in Tabasco began operations in 2024, Mexico has yet to achieve the coveted “energy sovereignty” in the fuel market. 

According to data from the US Energy Information Administration (EIA), Mexico imported approximately 199,000 barrels per day (b/d) of US diesel in Jun. 2026, up 11% compared to Jun. 2025.

8 PEMEX refineries

Latin America’s second-largest economy has 7 refineries within its borders, in addition to the Deer Park refinery in the US. 

Mexico City-based PEMEX owns 7 refineries spread out across Mexico as well as 1 located in the US. 

The Mexican based refineries include: Cadereyta, Madero, Minatitlán, Salina Cruz, Salamanca, Tula and the new Dos Bocas. 

The US-based refinery is called Deer Park and located in Houston, Texas.

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Last Aug., the national refining system produced more than 316,000 b/d, a 9.3% increase compared to the previous month. With this figure, Mexico supplies approximately 60% of its domestic diesel consumption, while the remainder is covered by imports, primarily from the US. 

Of the 7 refineries PEMEX operates in Mexico, the Dos Bocas refinery in Tabasco produced the most diesel in Aug., with 106,000 b/d; followed by the Cadereyta refinery in Nuevo León, with just over 50,000 b/d.

The remaining 5 refineries in Mexico produced an average of 31,000 b/d of fuel in Aug., according to the daily. 

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By Isaac Silvestre reporting from Monterrey. © 1999-2026 Energy Analytics Institute (EAI) and its 100% owned Venezuelan affiliate Editores Latin Petroleum CA. All Rights Reserved.