Not just at the northern border either, the price is lower here at the southern border even though gas in Belize is much higher. Also, for a reason that I'm only guessing at, gas is cheaper in Quintana Roo than in Yucatan. I think it is because QRoo is a free state with no added taxes, but I'm not sure of that.
It's safe to say that gas is the same price throughout central Mexico, but it varies significantly near both borders.
I totally agree with the above comments about the Pemex unions and the way Pemex is run. I do think though that the reason Pemex has no money is because the legislature takes everything that isn't stolen and leaves nothing to the company for research and development. That is a big reason that Pemex cannot afford to open the new field they have. At the same time, they have to open it as the Canterell field will go dry in less than 10 years. It's a dilemma that Calderon is trying to resolve in spite of AMLO and the rest. Politics in any country is full of compromises and dishonesty, that's not something that happens only in Mexico.
There is no doubt that Pemex has been good to Mexico in terms of revenues. Pemex remains Mexico's cash cow providing billions of pesos for infrastructure.
However, the PRD and many from times past believe that Pemex is the patrimony of Mexico. Nationalized in 1938, the company has continued to grow although the union has managed to destroy and take billions of pesos into its control.
Over the years, the government has lost control. To combat that, as of 1970, outsourcing has been allowed to operate within the organization. The effects are slow but the purpose is for Pemex to cut itself off or to die from within. It is happening but at this rate it would take another 25 years to see changes.
The "reforma energetica" is now before congress and here are the details of this reform Energy Reform.(in English)
The only issue at hand now, is to keep Lopez Obrador at bay while the congress tries to debate the issue. There are a lot of ex-PRI folks around who could kill this reform. I recently listened to an interview with Manuel Bartlett who was secretary under Miguel de la Madrid. Bartlett is responsible for the crash of 1987. He says that Pemex is never to be nationalized. When asked if Mexican companies could participate in the process he again said it would be against the constitution. With people like Bartlett still alive, the dream of nationalization continues.
Unfortunately, most Mexicans don't have any idea what they would be voting for. True I guess in any country today. Few people are involved in the political process of their country.
Quote: Unfortunately, most Mexicans don't have any idea what they would be voting for. True I guess in any country today. Few people are involved in the political process of their country.
....my experience precisely. However, the Mexican populace appeared to be highly politicized but not in ways that we are accustomed to here in the US or Canada (but not quite this way in Central American political participation, in my near 8-years of experience living there).... where we are a apolitical north of 22-Deg; some would even argue apathetic: read the election participation statistics over the past 60-years or more
qtla9111 wrote: There is no doubt that Pemex has been good to Mexico in terms of revenues. Pemex remains Mexico's cash cow providing billions of pesos for infrastructure.
However, the PRD and many from times past believe that Pemex is the patrimony of Mexico. Nationalized in 1938, the company has continued to grow although the union has managed to destroy and take billions of pesos into its control.
Over the years, the government has lost control. To combat that, as of 1970, outsourcing has been allowed to operate within the organization. The effects are slow but the purpose is for Pemex to cut itself off or to die from within. It is happening but at this rate it would take another 25 years to see changes.
The "reforma energetica" is now before congress and here are the details of this reform Energy Reform.(in English)
The only issue at hand now, is to keep Lopez Obrador at bay while the congress tries to debate the issue. There are a lot of ex-PRI folks around who could kill this reform. I recently listened to an interview with Manuel Bartlett who was secretary under Miguel de la Madrid. Bartlett is responsible for the crash of 1987. He says that Pemex is never to be nationalized. When asked if Mexican companies could participate in the process he again said it would be against the constitution. With people like Bartlett still alive, the dream of nationalization continues.
Unfortunately, most Mexicans don't have any idea what they would be voting for. True I guess in any country today. Few people are involved in the political process of their country.
Just to clarify my remarks as I don't want to offend anyone. What I meant to say is that most people today, in any part of the world, have very little participation in politics and leave the decisions to the politicians. In no way was I saying that people aren't capable, only that they aren't involved. I hope this clears that up.
If you ask the general population, they won't know the implications of nationalization or privatization.
What if it cost too much to get to the Northern Border of Mexico. I bet you will see fewer gringos in Mexico next year. Yeah, cheaper after you get into Mexico, but you will blow your entire fuel budget getting to the border. What if?
rocmoc n AZ/Mexico, glad we live close to the border!
I'm going to add a little spice to this thread.Granted,fuel is cheaper in Mexico but nobody factors in the cost of the tolls to go along with it and lets face it most of us use the toll roads.
Coming from Celestino in late january and travelling to Sonoyta pulling a 2 axel trailer,my fuel cost was 1840 pesos and the tolls were 994 pesos.Put the two together and where are the savings?
The tolls are more than half again the price of the fuel.So compare that with a no toll interstate and no pothole polka.
I'm not a Mexico hater,been spending 8 of the last 9 winters there and wanted to point out a fact that no one seems to be mentioning.And yes,I know Baja is a different story.
Marbil 146, I don't know what fuel prices are in BC right now, but in Ontario they are about $1.30 per liter. Last winter, Mexican diesel was under 60 cents/liter. If you add your toll costs (from your numbers about 30 cents/liter equivalent)you get around 90 cents a liter.I don't know how this compares to the cost of US diesel fuel, but it's a savings compared to our Canadian costs.
It's still a bargain driving down there if you ignore the potholes and topes!
almcc, Looking at marbil 146's numbers, I believe he/she is speaking about gasoline and you are speaking about diesel. Our diesel cost almost match our toll cost, dollar for dollar. There is not any saving for a gas rig in Mexico. Diesel in AZ is at this moment is $4.11 / gal or more. In CA $4.60 or more. You will pay more to get to the Mexico border than a gas rig so the numbers work our about the same for someone coming from Canada. What potholes and topes? Never see them, too busy enjoying the country. The point is no matter if you are diesel or gas it IS going to cost more next winter unless you are already close to Mexico.
Al; I dont have the actual gas prices for that time period but I know my average fill-ups were within $5.00 of each other between the U.S. and Mexico on a 25 gallon tank and the tolls took that difference much higher.Having said that I guess with todays rapidly rising prices this discussion is a whole nuther story.BTO we are paying the same as you right now.
In January I had the conversion for gas not diesel at about .77 per liter plus as you say another .30 for tolls making it $107 a liter or $4.04 a U.S. gallon.BTW I enjoyed your blog this past winter.
Offline
