Mexico: Fuel shortages reported in several states as of early January

Event

Fuel shortages continue to be reported by local media sources in several states across Mexico, including Michoacán, Queretaro, Tamaulipas, State of Mexico, Hidalgo, Jalisco, and Guanajuato as of early January. On Thursday, January 3, President Andres Manuel López Obrador and state-owned petroleum company Pemex issued a statement claiming that supplies had normalized. However, fuel station owners have disputed the claim. In Michoacán, the worst hit state, 90 percent of gas stations reportedly remain closed. According to Pemex, the supply shortages are being caused by fuel theft along pipelines. Associated protests are also possible in the near term.

Advice

Individuals in the abovementioned states are advised to fill up vehicles whenever fuel is available, ensure sufficient fuel reserves before all long journeys, and expect longer waiting times at gas stations.