MEXICO · ENERGY
Key Facts
- The country Mexico is the United States’ southern neighbour and a major trading partner, led since October 2024 by President Claudia Sheinbaum.
- What happened On Wednesday 21 October 2026 Sheinbaum said Mexico has no agreement or commitment to buy more US gas, an idea she said Washington proposed.
- Her reason Her government wants gas for five new power plants produced in Mexico, though Mexico still needs Texas supply for now.
- The numbers US pipelines sent Mexico 2.42 trillion cubic feet of gas in 2025, about 6.6 billion a day, up 3.4%.
- The trade backdrop The US goods trade deficit with Mexico was US$197.0 billion in 2025, up from US$168.6 billion in 2024.
- What it means for you US gas producers keep a large Mexican customer, but a bigger sale is not agreed and Mexico plans to buy less over time.
- Power Index Mexico ranks 2nd of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 71.4 points (October 2026 edition).
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said on Wednesday 21 October 2026 that Mexico has no agreement or commitment to buy more US gas. She told her daily morning press conference that Washington proposed the idea and that Mexico wants the fuel produced at home.
For US readers it matters because Mexico already buys about 6.6 billion cubic feet of American pipeline gas a day. Washington has floated selling more US gas to narrow its trade deficit, yet Sheinbaum admitted Mexico still needs Texas supply for now.
What Sheinbaum Said on Wednesday
On Wednesday, Sheinbaum said there is no agreement and no commitment to buy more US gas. She added that the proposal came from the United States, saying it was something Washington had put on the table.
The Mexican news site Contralínea quoted her calling it a possibility on the table and not a settled deal. Her stated goal is for the gas that feeds new power plants to be produced in Mexico.
Why Mexico Still Needs Texas Gas
Sheinbaum said the aim is to cut imports but that Mexico needs gas from Texas at this moment, according to EFE. She said the government also wants to raise national output to supply new power plants.
Her government is building five new combined-cycle power plants, which burn gas to run turbines and then reuse the waste heat to make more electricity. She said that if the gas cannot be produced in Mexico, it would have to come from somewhere else.
Storage Leaves Little Margin
Asked whether Mexico can store only about three days of gas, Energy Secretary Luz Elena González said that is more or less right, EFE reported. She said the country can currently meet electricity demand and the gas needs of industrial parks.
Cenagas, the state body that runs Mexico’s gas pipeline network, said earlier in October that the country has no strategic gas storage. Sheinbaum said expanding storage would be desirable, but that Mexico has so far handled supply interruptions by other means.
What the Numbers Show for US Exporters
The US Energy Information Administration, Washington’s official energy statistics agency, counts 2,422,839 million cubic feet of US pipeline gas exported to Mexico in 2025. That is up from 2,342,588 million in 2024 and 2,241,553 million in 2023, or roughly 6.6 billion cubic feet a day in 2025.
Mexico imports up to 70% of its gas, mostly from the United States, according to a 13 October report by the Mexican daily Crónica. The US Census Bureau puts the US goods trade deficit with Mexico at US$197.0 billion for 2025, against US$168.6 billion a year earlier.
How the Idea Reached the Table
On Tuesday 13 October, Sheinbaum said buying more US gas could be possible to cut the deficit that worries President Donald Trump. On Monday 19 October she confirmed that gas purchases had come up in her calls with Trump.
Economy Secretary Marcelo Ebrard is negotiating with US trade officials, and both governments plan to keep talking through the end of the year. Mexico’s own plan to expand state power generation through 2030 leans on gas as well.
What It Means for US Readers
US gas producers and pipeline operators in Texas keep a large and growing customer next door, but no new volume is promised. Any move to buy more US gas would depend on how Mexican production and the five new plants perform.
Investors tracking the trade talks should note that gas is one lever Washington can pull to show progress on the deficit. Mexico’s aim of importing less over time points to slower growth in this export line.
What Is Not Known
Neither government has stated a volume, price or date for more US gas sales. It is also not clear whether the idea will return in the broader trade talks led by Ebrard.
No figures have been given on how much gas Mexican fields could add or when the five plants will start running. Plans for more storage have not been announced.
More: Mexico news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Mexico agree to buy more US gas?
No, President Sheinbaum said on 21 October 2026 that there is no agreement and no commitment to buy more gas. She said the idea was proposed by the United States.
Does Mexico still import gas from the United States?
Yes, Sheinbaum said Mexico needs gas from Texas at this moment. US pipelines sent Mexico about 6.6 billion cubic feet a day in 2025, according to US government data.
Why does Mexico want to produce more gas at home?
The government says it wants less reliance on imports and needs steady fuel for five new combined-cycle power plants. Mexico can store only about three days of gas, according to its energy secretary.
What is a combined-cycle power plant?
It is a power station that burns gas in a turbine and then uses the leftover heat to drive a second turbine. This makes more electricity from the same fuel.
Why does this matter for the US trade deficit?
Washington has floated bigger gas sales as a way to narrow its goods deficit with Mexico, which was US$197.0 billion in 2025. Sheinbaum said the idea is a proposal from the US side and not a settled deal.
Sources: Contralínea, Sheinbaum descarta acuerdo para comprar más gas natural a Estados Unidos, 21 October 2026; 24 Horas, Claudia Sheinbaum niega acuerdo para comprar más gas natural a EU, 21 October 2026; Código QRO (EFE), México confirma que sólo puede almacenar gas natural para tres días de consumo, 21 October 2026; Crónica, Sheinbaum considera aumentar importaciones de gas en medio de diálogo con Trump, 13 October 2026; Diario de Yucatán (EFE), Sheinbaum valora comprar más gas a EE. UU., 13 October 2026; US Energy Information Administration, US natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico, annual data to 2025; US Census Bureau, trade in goods with Mexico, 2025 annual data.
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief