La Jornada: Pemex widened deficit in its trade balance; exceeded one billion dollars in 2026

Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) is unable to reverse the negative results of its trade balance. Between January and May, the oil company recorded a deficit of more than one billion dollars, a figure that almost tripled compared to that observed in the same period last year, according to company data.

According to its latest statistics, between January and May the balance of trade was in deficit by 1.11 billion dollars. In the same period, but in 2025, the negative balance was 452 million dollars.

The trade balance records the difference between the value of exports and imports of petroleum products, natural gas and petrochemicals. When sales abroad are greater than purchases made in other countries, the result is a surplus; when the opposite occurs, there is a deficit.

According to the data, in the first five months of the year, the company’s exports totaled 7,443 million dollars, while imports reached 8,553 million.

In the same period of 2025, exports accumulated 7,965 million dollars and imports 8,418 million.

Compared to the first five months of 2025, Pemex exports decreased by 522 million dollars, while imports increased by 135 million, a behavior that expanded the negative balance of the trade balance.

The business of the Mexican oil company focuses on the exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons, as well as the refining and marketing of oil, fuels and other derivatives.

May figures

In May, Pemex exports amounted to 1,995 million dollars, an amount higher by 475 million (31.3 percent) compared to the 1,520 million reported in the same month of 2025.

However, imports totaled 2,918 million dollars, an increase of 1,200 million (69.8 percent), compared to the 1,718 million registered in May of last year.

As a result, the balance of trade was in deficit by 923 million dollars during the fifth month of the year. In May 2025, the negative balance had been 198 million dollars, so the imbalance increased by 725 million in its annual comparison.