National and international analysts, as well as banking executives who have suppliers of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) as clients, are closely monitoring the figures reported by the state-owned company. There is hope that the outstanding debts to them will be settled soon. However, it seems that Pemex, led by Víctor Rodríguez, is manipulating the figures and still failing to pay its suppliers as it should, which has caused problems for companies of all sizes, despite the claims made in morning conferences.
In the results report for the first quarter of 2025 presented to the Mexican Stock Exchange, Pemex indicated a 20% reduction in its debt to suppliers, decreasing from 505 billion to 404 billion pesos. Although this figure might seem encouraging, when compared to the debt from the third quarter of the previous year, which amounted to $20.524 billion, it is evident that the debt has not decreased significantly since Claudia Sheinbaum took office and promised to settle the debts.
While Pemex plays with the figures, the non-payment has led to the bankruptcy of numerous contractors, the dismissal of thousands of workers, and an alarming decrease in the company's production, which now stands at 1.6 million barrels per day. This situation has led the Ministry of Energy, headed by Luz Elena González, to express concern over the operational crisis at Pemex and to request the implementation of an emergency plan to increase exploration and production of hydrocarbons.
Additionally, changes have been announced in Pemex's leadership, including the replacement of the director of Exploration and Production, Néstor Martínez. These changes aim to improve the current situation and reverse the decline in the company's production.
Regarding the protection and enforcement of intellectual property in Mexico, the country has experienced a setback by moving from the "Watch List" to the "Priority Watch List" in the report presented by the Office of the United States Trade Representative. Ongoing concerns about trademark counterfeiting, copyright piracy, and other aspects related to intellectual property are noted.
In the legislative sphere, initiatives have been presented in the State of Mexico, governed by Delfina Gómez, to combat the crime of dispossession, which has increased in recent years. Proposals such as reforming the local Penal Code with harsher penalties for offenders aim to deter this criminal practice that has affected many families in the region.
Finally, former Secretary of Finance and former presidential candidate José Antonio Meade was re-elected for another year to be part of the global Board of Directors of HSBC. His experience and knowledge in financial matters earned him this recognition and keep him as one of the few Mexicans in international boards of large banks.
