Mexico · ENERGY
Key Facts
- —What happened Diesel tax waiver hits 6.08 pesos (US$0.36) per litre for 22-28 August.
- —How big Drivers now pay 17 per cent of the diesel levy, the smallest share this year.
- —The real story Waiver is a tax cut, not a payment; drivers pay 1.28 pesos (US$0.08).
- —The catch It is a weekly decision, not a yearly budget, and applies only to diesel.
- —Who it hits Mexican diesel drivers; energy ministry underspent 164,009 million pesos (US$9.70 billion).
- —What comes next The 22-28 August waiver ends; next week’s quota is unpublished.
Mexico’s weekly fuel excise tax waiver now leaves drivers paying just 17 per cent of the levy. The energy ministry posts the biggest underspend of any federal department this year.
Mexico diesel subsidy has reached its largest level of 2026, according to the finance ministry’s weekly schedule. The waiver now covers 6.08 pesos (US$0.36) per litre.
It applies for the week of Saturday 22 to Friday 28 August.
What Is the Mexico Diesel Subsidy?
The Mexico diesel subsidy is a fiscal stimulus, not a direct payment. It waives part of the IEPS, the special tax on production and services, charged on every litre of fuel.
The finance ministry, known as SHCP, decides each week how much of the per-litre tax to forgo. Because the tax is part of the pump price, waiving it holds retail costs down.
The weekly quota is published in the official gazette ahead of each Saturday-to-Friday period. However, the waiver is decided by the finance ministry, not by fuel retailers.
The waiver is not a payment to drivers or retailers. Instead, the state simply collects less tax on each litre sold.
Largest Stimulus of 2026
El Economista reported that the finance ministry granted the largest fiscal stimulus so far in 2026 for diesel. The stimulus is worth 6.08 pesos (US$0.36) per litre for the week of 22 to 28 August.
In addition, the driver still pays only 1.28 pesos (US$0.08) per litre, which is 17 per cent of the levy. The Treasury waives the rest, according to the same report.
The stimulus is worth 6.08 pesos (US$0.36) per litre for the week of 22 to 28 August. Meanwhile, this is the largest fiscal stimulus so far in 2026, according to El Economista.
The 6.08 pesos (US$0.36) per litre waiver applies from 22 to 28 August. However, this is the biggest stimulus so far in 2026, according to El Economista.
How the Weekly Stimulus Works
The stimulus is set by an agreement published in the Diario Oficial de la Federación, Mexico’s official gazette. This happens ahead of each Saturday-to-Friday week.
For example, the previous week’s break was smaller. For 15 to 21 August, the diesel stimulus was 69.09 per cent of the levy, worth 5.0874 pesos (US$0.30) per litre.
The previous week’s break was smaller, at 69.09 per cent of the levy. In addition, the agreement for 15 to 21 August was published in the official gazette on 14 August.
The previous week’s stimulus was 5.0874 pesos (US$0.30) per litre, leaving a quota of 2.2760 pesos (US$0.13). In addition, the agreement for that week was published in the official gazette on 14 August.
Compared With Earlier in August
Earlier in the month, the share absorbed was lower still. La Jornada reported that for the first seven days of August the government would absorb 75.90 per cent of the diesel IEPS.
As a result, users would pay only 1.77 pesos (US$0.10) of the levy per litre. That compares with the current 1.28 pesos (US$0.08) they now pay.
In the first seven days of August, the government absorbed 75.90 per cent of the IEPS. Furthermore, users paid 1.77 pesos (US$0.10) per litre then, compared with 1.28 pesos (US$0.08) now.
In the first seven days of August, the government absorbed 75.90 per cent of the IEPS. As a result, users paid only 1.77 pesos (US$0.10) per litre then, compared with 1.28 pesos (US$0.08) now.
Diesel Treated Better Than Petrol
Diesel has been treated better than petrol this month. On 1 August, regional outlet Tiempo reported motorists would pay almost 32 centavos less per litre of diesel.
This came as the petrol quota rose. Meanwhile, the petrol IEPS quota increased, but the diesel quota fell.
This shows a deliberate shift in the weekly stimulus policy. The diesel quota fell while the petrol quota rose on 1 August.
As a result, motorists paid almost 32 centavos less per litre of diesel. The petrol quota rose while the diesel quota fell on 1 August.
Meanwhile, motorists paid almost 32 centavos less per litre of diesel, as Tiempo reported.
Energy Ministry’s Big Underspend
Separately, energy was the federal department that spent least against its budget in the first half of 2026. The energy ministry, known as Sener, spent 164,009 million pesos (US$9.70 billion) less than approved.
El Economista reported this shortfall in spending. This made it the department with the biggest underspend, or subejercicio.
The gap is not a formal budget cut but has the same effect on the ground. The underspend is a gap between authorised and actual spending.
However, it is not a formal budget cut, though it has the same effect on the ground. The energy ministry’s underspend was 164,009 million pesos (US$9.70 billion) below approved spending.
However, this is not a formal budget cut, though it has the same effect on the ground.
Cause: Lower Support for Pemex
The cause was less money for the state oil company. Expansión reported that lower support for Pemex created a 164,009 million peso gap (US$9.70 billion).
The gap was between scheduled and actual spending in the first half. In fact, energy led a wider squeeze.
Expansión noted that 64.5 per cent of the total adjustment fell on four headings, with energy taking the largest cut. Lower support for Pemex caused the 164,009 million peso (US$9.70 billion) gap.
Meanwhile, this was the largest cut among four headings that made up 64.5 per cent of the total adjustment. Lower support for Pemex caused the gap, as Expansión reported.
In addition, energy led a wider squeeze, with 64.5 per cent of the total adjustment falling on four headings.
Pemex’s Own Underspend
Pemex has its own, smaller and separate underspend figure. Vivavoz reported an underspend of 45,297 million pesos (US$2.68 billion) in net programmable spending.
This was a fall of 16.1 per cent against the calendared budget. However, this is different from the energy ministry’s gap.
The energy sector gap is 164,009 million pesos (US$9.70 billion). Pemex’s own shortfall is 45,297 million pesos (US$2.68 billion).
Pemex’s own underspend was 45,297 million pesos (US$2.68 billion) in net programmable spending. In addition, this was a fall of 16.1 per cent against the calendared budget.
Pemex’s own underspend was 45,297 million pesos (US$2.68 billion) in net programmable spending. Meanwhile, this is separate from the energy ministry’s 164,009 million peso (US$9.70 billion) gap.
Official Source for Both Figures
Both figures come from the same official source. The reporting relies on SHCP’s quarterly reports.
These cover the economy, public finances, and debt for early 2026. So, while the Mexico diesel subsidy is a weekly tax waiver, the underspend reflects a broader fiscal picture.
They are separate findings in the same article. Both figures come from the SHCP’s quarterly reports on public finances.
Meanwhile, these reports cover the first half of 2026, as reported by El Economista and Expansión. Both figures come from the SHCP’s quarterly reports on public finances.
In addition, these reports cover the first half of 2026, as reported by El Economista and Expansión.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mexico diesel subsidy?
Mexico’s diesel subsidy waives part of the IEPS tax on each litre. This fiscal stimulus lowers fuel costs for consumers and businesses.
How much is the diesel stimulus this week?
For the week of 22 to 28 August 2026, the stimulus is 6.08 pesos (US$0.36) per litre. This is the largest fiscal stimulus for diesel so far in 2026, according to El Economista.
Why is the energy ministry underspending?
The energy ministry underspent by 164,009 million pesos (US$9.70 billion) in the first half of 2026. The cause was lower support for Pemex, the state oil company, as reported by Expansión.
Is the underspend the same as Pemex’s shortfall?
No, they are different. The energy ministry’s gap is 164,009 million pesos (US$9.70 billion), while Pemex’s own underspend is 45,297 million pesos (US$2.68 billion).
Connected Coverage
Sources: El Economista; Expansión; La Jornada; Diario Oficial de la Federación; Vivavoz; SHCP.
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