In the first half of 2026 (1H26), Airports and Auxiliary Services (ASA) supplied 2,698 million liters of fuel , through 416,000 aircraft refueling services.

The agency specified that the largest volume supplied was recorded at the stations in Mexico City, Cancun, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Tijuana, San Jose del Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, Toluca, Queretaro and Merida.

“During this period, ASA maintained the quality and safety standards established in the national and international regulations applicable to aviation fuel. Ongoing monitoring of the entire supply chain, from receiving the fuel to final delivery to aircraft, ensures a reliable service aligned with industry best practices,” ASA emphasized.

ASA, which reports to the  Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transportation (SICT) , supplies jet fuel and aviation gas to national and international commercial airlines , cargo aviation companies, executive aviation, general aviation and aircraft for government and state operations.

Furthermore, it has the capacity to respond to increases in consumption during holiday seasons, international events, contingencies, mass events and high air operation seasons.

On average, it delivers 14.8 million liters of jet fuel and aviation gas daily.

“The agency maintains continuity of service through logistical planning, inventory availability and installed operational capacity, and at the same time promotes actions to strengthen the future incorporation of sustainable fuels without affecting operational safety or the reliability of supply,” he stated.

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El cargo ASA completes 416,000 aircraft refueling services in the first half of 2026. apareció primero en T21.

The proposal to eliminate tax incentives for the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) applicable to gasoline and diesel starting in 2027 could become “a self-inflicted wound” for the Mexican economy if implemented immediately, warned Marcial Díaz Ibarra, managing partner of Qua Energy Consulting .

The specialist considered that, although the measure would allow the Mexican government to increase its revenue, the fuel market does not yet meet the conditions to withdraw this support mechanism without generating inflationary pressures.

“They will collect more, but the issue of inflation is going to skyrocket and the entire consumption chain will be exposed because they will pass the price on to the consumer,” he stated.

Unlike other voices in the sector that have warned about possible effects on transport companies , Díaz argued that the greatest impact would fall on the entire economy, since the increase in the cost of fuel would end up being passed on to the goods and services consumed by the population.

Therefore, he considered that if the government’s objective is to withdraw the stimulus, the measure should be implemented gradually.

“If you were to schedule a reduction of the IEPS (Special Tax on Production and Services) month by month for the next fiscal year, it sounds much more sensible than doing it all at once because the impact will go directly to inflation,” he explained.

He pointed out that fuel cannot be compared to other products taxed with IEPS, because practically all economic activities depend on it.

“You’re not talking about the IEPS tax on cigarettes or alcohol. We all use fuel. It doesn’t matter your sex, age, or socioeconomic status; we all use fuel,” he emphasized.

In that regard, he warned that eliminating fiscal support would have effects on the entire supply chain .

“It will affect all sectors and prices will skyrocket,” he said.

Díaz acknowledged that companies do face increasing pressure from tax and labor burdens , which has reduced their profit margins.

Finally, he urged people not to take for granted that the elimination of the IEPS incentive will be finalized in 2027, as the proposal still needs to be discussed during the approval process of the Federal Expenditure Budget.

“I don’t know if it will be real or just a media ploy. We’ll see when they schedule the Federal Expenditure Budget in the next legislative session,” he concluded.

It is worth remembering that in the Revenue Waivers 2026 document , the Ministry of Finance and Public Credit (SHCP) proposed ceasing to apply this fiscal mechanism from 2027 onwards under the assumption that international fuel prices will maintain a stable behavior, which would allow for increased tax collection.

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El cargo Eliminating IEPS incentives is “a self-inflicted wound” for the economy: Qua Energy Consulting apareció primero en T21.

El cargo Solution or problem? Withdrawal of IEPS incentives puts the trucking industry on alert apareció primero en T21.

The impact is no longer new, but it is more profound. After weeks of diesel price increases , the freight transport sector is beginning to feel not only the rise in costs, but also a more complex imbalance: falling tariffs, stifled demand, and an international environment that continues to put pressure on the energy market.

The global context has set the tone. The rise in crude oil prices, driven by the conflict in the Middle East, led to diesel price increases of nearly 10% nationwide in a matter of weeks , in a country where dependence on imports remains crucial. But on the ground, the reality is more straightforward: profit margins are shrinking.

Currently, diesel is priced at around 28.5 pesos per liter nationwide , with some regions already exceeding 29 pesos.

“With the increase in diesel prices, they are killing us,” said Martín González Márquez, commercial manager of  Transport Martin .

The trend had already been developing. Throughout 2025, diesel prices showed an upward trajectory , with a more pronounced increase toward the end of that year and the beginning of 2026, reflecting the accumulated pressure on transportation operating costs. The problem is not just the increase itself, but how it is absorbed.

In practice, the sector operates under two models: companies that partially absorb the impact to maintain competitiveness and others that pass it on directly to the end customer. However, both models face limitations.

“The carrier cannot absorb it… we have to index the increase in diesel to the tariff,” explained Fernando Chacón, general director of Setramex .

He added that negotiations are no longer general but rather case-by-case with each client, in an environment where volatility complicates any immediate adjustments . Passing on the cost is inevitable, but not immediate.

“You pass on the increase… and at the end of the day, the end consumer is the one who ends up paying,” agreed Bernabé García González, general manager of Altamira Logística de Carga .

However, the gap between the fuel price increase and the tariff adjustments is what is currently causing the greatest financial pressure on companies. This is compounded by an even more adverse environment.

“Rates are going down and diesel is going up… it’s unsustainable,” warned Benjamín Barrera Muñoz, commercial director of Santa Fe de Guanajuato Express .

In this scenario, diesel is not just another input: it’s the main operating cost for transportation , and any variation directly impacts profitability. Beyond the short term, the effect is already spreading throughout the entire supply chain.

The increase in fuel prices not only puts pressure on transporters, but also anticipates adjustments in the price of goods, in a domino effect that is beginning to be reflected in different sectors of the economy.

Meanwhile, the sector remains attentive to decisions from the federal government, as today (March 26), during the morning press conference at the National Palace, an announcement is expected regarding a support package for the trucking industry , the scope of which is still to be detailed, but which generates anticipation about the price of diesel at a key moment for the industry.

For now, the transportation sector is beginning to reconfigure its operations amid more complex negotiations, narrower margins, and decisions that, in many cases, define the viability of the business in the short term.

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El cargo Diesel puts pressure on trucking: tariffs, costs and decision-making under strain apareció primero en T21.

While construction of its intermodal terminal in Pesquería, Nuevo León, progresses toward its first operational phase in the second half of 2026, Bulkmatic de México is not simply carrying out construction work: it is redesigning its growth strategy. The company has defined a roadmap that combines physical expansion, market diversification, and strategic repositioning within the Mexican rail system. Within this framework, it is preparing an additional investment of $70 million this year, earmarked for new expansions in Tula, Hidalgo, and Tlalnepantla, State of Mexico, which will be completed in 2027.

More than isolated projects, it’s a network approach: interconnected rail nodes seeking to capture logistical value across various industrial segments. Alejandro Doria, the company’s president, clearly defines it in an interview with T21: “Our goal is double-digit growth in all the sectors where we operate, including the distribution of food-grade plastic resins, minerals, chemicals, and fuels, which we believe are poised for a rebound.”

This approach reveals a cross-cutting strategy: Bulkmatic is not focusing on a single market, but rather on building a multi-purpose platform that allows it to capture diverse flows under a single rail infrastructure. Within this framework, the energy sector has become one of the most critical components of the model.

Change of scale

For years, the movement of hydrocarbons remained virtually stagnant. This was not due to a lack of structural demand, but rather to a regulatory, operational, and market environment that distorted the formal distribution chain. However, a change in this trend began to emerge in late 2025, driven by the federal policy against fuel theft.

Doria explains it this way: “This direct fight by the (Mexican) government against fuel smuggling has helped our clients place their product in the corresponding markets, and we believe it will continue this way, with sound policies that will benefit the entire sector. We see a Ministry of Energy and a National Energy Commission that are more open to processing permits, although they are still very lengthy. Now they are adhering more closely to the law; before, things were stagnant, the legally stipulated timeframes for processing permits were not respected, and this gives us hope that things are moving forward.”

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El cargo From operator to integrator: Bulkmatic’s new cycle in Mexico apareció primero en T21.

Recent events in Venezuela, marked by political turmoil with the United States, have raised concerns in international energy markets, whose tension over oil could be reflected in a surge in fuel prices. However, in Mexico, the impact would be, for now, “moderate ,” since the country has a greater relationship in this area with its northern neighbor than with the South American nation, so the inflationary risk for Mexican households remains contained in the short term .

“For Mexican consumers, the impact could be even more indirect. Mexico imports a significant portion of the gasoline it consumes, primarily from the United States—between 49% and 72% of its total imports, according to recent reports from the Ministry of Energy (Sener) and Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) . Therefore, the final price depends more on the U.S. energy market, the exchange rate, and domestic fiscal policy than on the situation in Venezuela,” explained Said Romero López, coordinator of the Bachelor’s Degree in Logistics and International Trade at CETYS University ,  Tijuana Campus.

According to official statistics, Mexico imports approximately 400,000 to 600,000 barrels of refined products (gasoline) daily to meet its domestic demand.

Meanwhile, according to Pemex, crude oil production reached over 1.641 million barrels per day in November 2025 alone. In the same month last year, the Mexican state-owned company produced over 412,000 barrels per day of gasoline, 45,000 barrels per day of jet fuel (used in aircraft), and over 280,000 barrels per day of diesel.

In an interview with T21, Said Romero stated that as long as there is no significant disruption in the global oil supply, no immediate pressure on gasoline prices at Mexican service stations is anticipated . He added that, in terms of consumption, this means that households and businesses in Mexico would not face, in the short term, increases directly resulting from the events in Venezuela .

“Any deeper economic impact would only occur if the crisis produced structural changes in the global energy market, a scenario that, according to specialists, is more in the medium term and depends on broader geopolitical decisions,” he reiterated.

Oil and refined product production in the United States, as well as binational infrastructure and Mexico’s diversified suppliers, reduce exposure to isolated external shocks, so the inflationary risks associated with the current Venezuelan situation are contained and do not directly translate into higher prices for consumers .

Despite this, Said Romero indicated that the geopolitical environment must be kept under surveillance for the medium term , “if it is combined with other elements related to changes in energy policies or greater volatility in global markets.”

He emphasized that no immediate inflationary pressures are anticipated due to the situation in Venezuela , although if the situation escalates it could cause a rise in international oil prices, with gradual “second round” effects, with higher transportation costs that would be reflected in the final prices of goods and services .

Although the South American country holds the largest crude oil reserves, its limited production capacity reduces its real influence on global supply and international prices.

Venezuela has the world’s largest proven crude oil reserves, with more than 303 billion barrels , surpassing even Saudi Arabia, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) .

What about logistics and supply chains?

In the logistics and freight transport sector, the situation is being viewed with caution . Venezuela is not a key fuel supplier for Mexico, which decouples national supply chains from the fluctuations in the South American country. However, this industry is highly sensitive to energy price volatility .

According to Said Romero, the current relationship between the United States and Venezuela functions more as a factor of “geopolitical noise” than as an immediate trigger of economic disruptions related to the logistical environment in the United States and Mexico.

“For our country, whose logistical and energy integration with the United States is of great importance, transportation costs, fuel supplies, and the stability of supply chains depend much more on the performance of the U.S. market than on events in Venezuela,” he pointed out.

He noted that a prolonged period of uncertainty could drive up operating costs, specifically for freight transport and export-oriented manufacturing . “If these increases persist, the pass-through to final prices could gradually erode purchasing power.”

The real challenge for Mexico is not the physical supply of energy, but preserving macroeconomic stability and strengthening logistical integration with the United States, Romero López concluded.

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El cargo Could Mexico experience fuel inflation due to tensions in Venezuela? apareció primero en T21.

The US military action in Venezuela on January 3, which led to the arrest of Nicolás Maduro, then acting president of that South American country, points to a reconfiguration in the global energy landscape—in which Mexico would be affected—that could cause an increase in fuel prices, as well as minimal risks of logistical disruptions.

Marcial Díaz Ibarra, managing partner of QUA Energy Consultores , indicated that the implications for Mexico in the face of a possible reorganization in the global oil market would include bullish scenarios that would put pressure on fuel import costs .

He also estimated that increased volatility would impact the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) and stimulus policies. Furthermore, he noted that a reconfiguration of heavy crude oil flows in the Gulf of Mexico market would affect Maya crude price differentials . Regarding foreign policy, he emphasized in an interview with T21 that there would be pressure to balance principles of non-intervention with economic and regional realities.

“The transition in Venezuela should be understood as a structural, not a temporary, event. For Mexico, the main risk is not Venezuela itself, but the volatility of the international oil market and its transmission to prices, inflation, and public finances,” he pointed out.

Regarding the repercussions on the global oil market, Díaz identified three possible scenarios, the first being an orderly transition and relief of the sanctions imposed on Venezuela by the United States, which would have a “moderate bearish impact on prices”.

The second scenario would be a decline with internal friction , the impact of which would point to an upward trend in the short term. The third scenario, according to the specialist, would lead to a military escalation or sustained blockade , with a “strong and highly volatile upward” impact.

According to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) , Venezuela has the largest oil reserves in the world. In 2024 alone, this South American country had more than 303 billion barrels of proven reserves , representing 17% of the global total.

Despite this potential, the nation has a deteriorating infrastructure, “a high dependence on diluents, and severe financial constraints. Venezuela’s strategic value lies not in what it produces today, but in what it could produce under an environment of stability, investment, and normalized trade,” Díaz Ibarra emphasized.

According to the energy expert, Venezuela is currently a marginal player in terms of supply, but central in terms of expectations , so any sign of political transition or adjustment in the sanctions regime has the capacity to move prices, risk premiums and investment decisions on a global scale.

“The departure of the Nicolás Maduro regime constitutes a high-impact geopolitical event, not because of the immediate volume of Venezuelan oil production —currently close to 1% of the world supply— but because of its structural potential, its strategic reserves and its role in the energy dispute between the United States, China and Russia,” he added.

Marcial Díaz noted that China is the main buyer of Venezuelan oil (between 70% and 80% of exports go to that Asian country) through debt financing and indirect marketing arrangements. Meanwhile, the United States acquires limited volumes through specific licenses (mainly Chevron ), while Venezuela makes marginal shipments to Cuba for political purposes.

The Gulf of Mexico and its possibilities

Alejandro Montufar, CEO of PETROIntelligence , believes that the conflict in Venezuela and the subsequent US intervention are generating initial uncertainty in the markets , but with minimal impact on crude oil production and exports. According to Montufar, the region most dependent on Venezuelan crude is the US Gulf of Mexico, whose refineries are designed to process it, and therefore would be the biggest beneficiary.

“These complexes could face adjustments in their refining margins and logistics costs if the flow is interrupted; however, with the takeover by the United States, it is safe to say that the flow will surely increase and this region will be the most benefited by ensuring a direct and stable supply that reduces its dependence on other heavier, more expensive or distant crudes,” he noted.

For Mexico, he stressed, this would represent a positive effect on gasoline and diesel import prices, strengthening the 24 pesos per liter agreement and even opening the possibility of additional reductions.

He added that the upward effect on prices will be temporary, while the stabilizing and downward impact is projected to be lasting in the medium and long term. Once operational control is consolidated in Venezuela, the market could operate under a logic of “abundant supply,” maintaining moderate prices during 2026 and early 2027. Furthermore, he pointed out that external factors such as tensions in the Middle East or international sanctions could influence the evolution of global energy prices.

Patience and opportunities

For his part, Roberto Díaz de León, a specialist in fuel issues, agreed that the situation will generate greater fragility in oil exports, with risks of logistical disruptions and an increase in the perception of risk by buyers and insurers , “it is not as if the supply is collapsing, but rather it deepens the vulnerability that the market already knows or recognizes.”

He indicated that in Mexico the pressures could only be reflected in derivatives such as gasoline and diesel, where volatility is usually amplified by additional factors such as refining margins, inventories and logistics routes.

“In Mexico, there may be some additional pressure on certain prices from large wholesalers while inventories are being adjusted. But I think it will be insignificant,” he stated.

Although he pointed out that the vulnerability mainly affects Caribbean countries and Asian markets dependent on Venezuelan crude, in the Mexican case he considered that “there will not be any impact, much less on logistical issues.”

The real challenge lies in the political and economic stability of Venezuela, as this will determine the appetite of international companies to invest in its energy market , emphasized Díaz de León, who specified that “we will have to be very patient to try to identify what the new conditions will be.”

He also noted that other producers such as Saudi Arabia, the United States, and Brazil have the capacity to compensate for the Venezuelan decline, although not immediately or in a price-neutral way, and that “the risk inevitably ends up in costs, investment decisions, and the final consumer,” insisting on the need for patience and prudence in the face of the volatility generated by the conflict .

“I insist that we must be very prudent, we must be very patient. I am convinced that when these situations occur, they bring more opportunities than risks. And we will have to be very attentive to see what opportunities international companies identify,” he concluded.

Given this scenario, Mexico and Latin America will have to face a new challenge, which is adapting to an energy context that is once again being reorganized, as well as to increasingly changing geopolitical movements.

Main image taken from the  Instagram account of Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA) .

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El cargo Mexico faces the risk of increased fuel prices due to the conflict in Venezuela apareció primero en T21.

The implementation of volumetric control and fuel traceability has become one of the biggest challenges for land transport, where technology, operational coordination and tax compliance are now inseparable pieces, according to specialists.

Luis Eduardo Chavarría Meza , CEO of Kepler Oil & Gas , warned that technology should be an ally and not an obstacle.

“Technology has already caught up with us: today volumetric control depends not only on software , but also on electronic components and the reconciliation between operations and accounting,” he stated during the  Midstream Forum Mexico 2025 , organized by Grupo T21 ( Energy21  and  T21 ).

Chavarría stressed that the lack of communication between the operational and accounting areas has resulted in financial penalties.

“I can bet that more than 20% of companies have already received some sanction from the Tax Administration Service (SAT) , not for bad practices, but for inconsistencies between accounting and operational records,” he said.

For his part, Andrés Bayona Insignares, founding partner of Promotora Energética E3 , explained that the case of vehicular and compressed natural gas demonstrates how traceability also applies to road transport, in a context where Mexico imports more than 70% of its gas from the United States.

“The control is very well defined from the beginning; the risk is not in the operation, but in administrative errors or poorly documented reports to the authority,” he pointed out.

The specialist added that, given the lack of pipeline infrastructure, “truck transport” continues to be the most used means, which implies higher costs and vulnerability in tracking volumes.

Meanwhile, Pablo César Gualdi , president and CEO of ATIO Group , warned that quantitative traceability is essential to maintain the integrity of the logistics chain.

“Quantitative traceability is fundamental to preventing illegally sourced fuel from entering the system; without full implementation of volumetric controls, the system remains vulnerable,” he stressed.

According to industry experts, compliance with traceability and measurement standards directly impacts hydrocarbon transportation, which must adapt to new technological requirements, verification processes, and real-time electronic records.

At the event, the panelists agreed that traceability is not only an administrative requirement, but also a tool for competitiveness and transparency that will determine the future of logistics in the Mexican energy sector.

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El cargo Volumetric control: the new challenge for fuel transport apareció primero en T21.

Aeropuertos y Servicios Auxiliares (ASA) is considering entering the international market, primarily in Latin America, to participate in airport operations, consulting, and fuel supply.

“We seek to boost Mexico’s institutional presence internationally, consolidating ASA’s leadership in Latin America. We also seek to participate in bidding processes for airport operations in Central and South America, which makes it a potential benchmark,” emphasized Humberto Antonio Suárez Castillo, ASA’s Business Unit Coordinator.

Suárez Castillo said that there are examples worldwide of government-owned companies that carry out these types of operations , as well as fuel consulting and services.

During his participation in the ASA conference as a driver of the country’s airport development and connectivity , organized by the College of Civil Engineers of Mexico (CICM) , he explained that they will also seek to participate in the generation of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF), maintenance, and regional aviation.

In this regard, he noted that the agency is working on a project to implement a green flight by the end of this year , and is therefore investing in storage for this type of fuel.

“The goal is to have a biorefinery by the end of this administration. We have many studies on what technology or raw materials we can begin using, such as sugarcane and used cooking oils. It’s an important project and is gaining international presence. It’s currently present in Latin America, and we’ve established a roadmap to set goals for 2030 and 2050,” Suárez Castillo noted.

Regarding maintenance (MRO), he commented that they are looking to invest in a hangar for nine aircraft , where qualified personnel with the necessary certifications are already available.

“We want Mexico to be a pioneer in this regard. There is already an MRO in Mexico City providing this service, but we believe the country has the capacity to have not just one, not necessarily on a large scale, but capable of servicing smaller aircraft,” he emphasized.

He also explained that in regional aviation, where there are around 1,500 airfields in Mexico, several of which are underutilized and others with infrastructure in need of development, the goal is to work on connectivity through joint participation.

He pointed out that they are promoting the Mexican University of Civil Aviation (UMAC) project , and are already in talks with the Ministry of Public Education (SEP) to finalize it in 2026.

“ASA has a very important service offering, and we make it available to any airport group, and now we want to take it international. We’ve already participated in Nicaragua and El Dorado (Colombia), and that gives us the opportunity to continue moving forward,” he said.

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El cargo ASA seeks to “conquer” the international airport market apareció primero en T21.