Mexico’s Oil Monopoly Looks to U.S. for Crude Oil Resulting from Non-Monopoly

Image: Matthew Rutledge

Under the control of Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex)—Mexico’s State Run Oil Monopoly—oil production has declined to levels not seen since 1995. Fortunately for the people of Mexico, producers in the United States, operating in relative freedom, have, during that same time, massively increased their production of crude.

Mexico may soon begin importing crude from the United States (if the U.S. Department of Commerce approves its exportation). As Reuters reports, Pemex’s

Chief Executive Emilio Lozoya said in an interview . . . that Pemex was very likely to start importing light crude from the United States in the next few months, to generate more value from . . . Mexico's six domestic refineries.

Lozoya said importing light crude from the United States was "a very good idea" that Pemex was analyzing, noting that it could help the company's refining unit boost output of products it is often forced to import, including gasoline and diesel.

Although the prospect of Mexicans benefiting from U.S. crude production is promising, Mexicans would do well to recognize and adopt the aspects of U.S. policy that enable producers to produce—most importantly the recognition of property rights with respect to oil resources and businesses. And Americans would do well to look to Mexico’s failures in this regard as an example of the harms that result when government violates the rights of producers.

Related:

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• European Industry Stagnates as Americans Prosper with Fracking

About David Biederman

David Biederman enjoys a career as a production engineer for a independent oil and gas producer. He earned a diploma in petroleum engineering technology in Canada and a petroleum engineering degree in the United States. David is also a researcher and writer for the Center For Industrial Progress.

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