Mexico's state-owned oil company Pemex and stevedoring services firm Seattle-based SSA Marine are looking at how they can boost imports of oil products into the Gulf of Mexico's port of Tuxpan.
The plan comes as demand for refined products on medium-range (MR) tankers surges after deregulation allowed gasoline retail prices to increase and more companies to import into the country. The US Energy Information Administration says total oil products exports into the country hit the highest level ever in December at 37.2 million barrels, up 24% from November.
To further those imports, Pemex signed a memorandum of understanding with SSA's Mexico subsidiary, which already runs container and general cargo operations at Tuxpan, to develop another site specifically for oil imports.
SSA may build the terminal with two anchoring positions on Pemex-owned land. The site would be connected via pipeline to Pemex's existing storage operations.
A similar plan was announced last year between Last year, Mexico-based terminal operator Grupo TMM said it had signed a deal to develop an import facility with docking for up to four MR-sized tankers.
