MEXICO · ENERGY
Key Facts
- The place Guanajuato, the Bajío industrial state of central Mexico, home to car plants and a major refinery.
- What happened Pemex, the state oil company, closed pipelines, local officials say, sending tanker trucks to Irapuato.
- The effect Drivers report waits of 12 hours or more to load fuel along Federal Highway 45.
- Not confirmed Pemex has issued no public statement, and officials name different pipelines as the cause.
- Power Index Mexico ranks 2nd of 14 in The Rio Times Latin America Power Index, with 71.4 points (October 2026 edition).
Tanker trucks are jamming Federal Highway 45 near the city of Irapuato in Guanajuato state, central Mexico, after Pemex, the state oil company, closed pipelines, local officials say. Pemex has not published a statement, and officials name different pipelines.
For US readers, the story shows how fragile fuel supply is in the Bajío, the industrial heartland that makes many US-bound cars and parts. Our guide to Mexico and the United States shows how closely the two economies are tied.
What Happened
Irapuato Mayor Lorena Alfaro García says Pemex closed pipelines in Zapopan, a city in Jalisco state, and moved fuel loading to its Irapuato terminal. Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo also links the truck jam to a pipeline closure and to terminals supplying fuel by truck.
Irapuato city councillor Gerardo Barroso Rangel counts about 300 tanker trucks a day at the terminal, a daily flow rather than one queue. Drivers say they wait at least 12 hours on weekdays and sometimes a full day.
Voices From Guanajuato
Mayor Alfaro says the trucks gather near the Ciudad Industrial zone, and she warns the jam could bring drug sales and fuel theft. She says Pemex staff told her on Friday 23 October that the problem would not be solved in the short term.
She says nobody has told her the situation is temporary, and she has asked state and federal officials to step in. Governor García Muñoz Ledo said on Tuesday 27 October that the head of Pemex Logistics, the company’s transport arm, promised to address the problem.
Michel Sojo Quiroz, president of the León branch of Coparmex (a national employers’ federation), said steady fuel supply is essential for business. He warned that delays raise logistics costs and that the effect would grow if the Tula-Salamanca pipeline closure lasts longer.
How the Queue Is Managed
Drivers say they now hand in their papers at the terminal and wait nearby until a call or message tells them when to load. Loading lists are shared in WhatsApp groups, and trucks enter in blocks of five, drivers say.
Operators say the new system followed a meeting between federal authorities and transporters. A National Guard sergeant says officers clear trucks from the roadway every day.
In Plain English
Huachicol: the Mexican word for stolen fuel, usually siphoned from pipelines. Theft of this kind costs the state oil company money and is tied to organized crime.
Tula-Salamanca pipeline: a fuel line that links the Tula refinery, north of Mexico City, with Salamanca in Guanajuato. A local business leader names it as one of the closed lines.
The Bajío: a belt of central Mexican states with car factories, farms and auto-parts makers. Many of its goods are sold in the United States.
What It Means for You
If you buy Mexican-made parts or run a plant in the Bajío, longer fuel delivery times can slow trucking and raise costs. The delays are local for now, and no national shortage has been announced.
Travelers driving through Guanajuato should expect slower traffic on Highway 45 near Irapuato. Pemex is also a large issuer of dollar bonds, so US investors follow its operations closely.
What Is Not Known
It is not known how long the closures will last or why Pemex ordered them. Pemex has not said whether the step is a test or a lasting change.
Officials name different pipelines: the mayor points to closures in Zapopan in Jalisco state, the governor mentions a pipeline closure without naming it, while the Coparmex leader names Tula-Salamanca. No official figure for service stations that ran short of fuel has been published.
More: Mexico news in English, every day from The Rio Times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Fuel Trucks Jammed Near Irapuato?
Local officials say Pemex pipeline closures moved fuel loading to its Irapuato terminal, so about 300 tanker trucks arrive each day. Pemex has not published a statement.
How Long Do Drivers Wait in Irapuato?
Drivers say they wait at least 12 hours on weekdays and sometimes a full day, and trucks line up along Federal Highway 45. The mayor says there is no date yet for clearing the trucks.
Is Mexico Running Out of Gasoline?
No national shortage has been announced. Business leaders in León warn that delays raise costs and that the effects would grow if the closure lasts.
Sources: Pemex, state oil company of Mexico, official site (no public statement on the closures found as of 30 October 2026); statements of Irapuato Mayor Lorena Alfaro García, Guanajuato Governor Libia Dennise García Muñoz Ledo, Irapuato councillor Gerardo Barroso Rangel and Coparmex León President Michel Sojo Quiroz, 26 to 29 October 2026.
Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief · Editorial standards · Report an error