New regulation over the permitting process involved in the importing and exporting of fuels in Mexico published in the country’s Official Gazette on Dec. 26 could prove harmful to competition in the Mexican energy sector.

petroleum trade

Mexico’s Comisión Federal de Competencia Económica (Cofece), the federal economic competition commission, published a statement last week warning the rules would “seriously hamper competition and free markets in the commercialization of petroleum products, and would affect consumer access to supply options at the best possible prices.”

Still, Mexico’s Energy Ministry (Sener) made the requirements for permits official over the holiday weekend. Read the details, in Spanish, here. 

One of the major changes in the published rules is the reduction in...