PEMEX to Meet 80% of Mexico's Fertilizer Needs

Mexico’s government announced that PEMEX will produce up to 80% of the country’s fertilizer needs, as a significant step toward achieving food sovereignty and reducing reliance on imports. The strategy was unveiled during the launch of the Fertilizers for Well-Being program in San Luis Acatlan, Guerrero, led by President Claudia Sheinbaum and Minister of Energy Luz Elena González.  

The program, designed to distribute free fertilizers directly to over 2 million small-scale farmers, will provide 1 million mt of fertilizer to cover more than 3.3 million ha of crops. Guerrero, where the program originated in 2019, will remain a major beneficiary, with 154,695mt distributed among 326,914 producers in 2025.  

Currently, PEMEX meets only 33% of the national fertilizer demand, with the remaining 67% sourced through imports. González highlighted efforts to rehabilitate key facilities, including the two urea plants at Pro Agroindustria, four ammonia plants at the Cosoleacaque Petrochemical Complex, and the Fertinal plants in Michoacan. These upgrades aim to significantly increase production and reduce dependency on imports.  

"Thanks to the energy reform, which restores PEMEX to the people of Mexico, we are progressing toward recovering the petrochemical and fertilizer industries as instructed by President Sheinbaum," said González.  

In 2024, PEMEX projected that fertilizer production would reach over 1.5 million mt, a 97% increase from 2018 levels, reflecting the government's commitment to boosting domestic output.  

Mexico reduced fertilizer imports by 11.4% in 2024, purchasing 3.7 million mt compared to 4.2 million the previous year, according to Grupo Consultor de Mercados Agrícolas (GCMA). Imports from Russia accounted for 38%, followed by Qatar at 13% and China at 12%. However, monthly imports declined sharply from 137,000mt in November to 82,000mt in December, primarily due to decreased demand caused by droughts.  

The program has been enshrined in the Constitution, ensuring free fertilizer access as a right for small-scale farmers. Additionally, the government introduced the Harvesting Sovereignty initiative, which focuses on productivity through improved seeds and sustainable practices.  

Women and Indigenous communities play a critical role in these initiatives. In Guerrero, 50% of beneficiaries are women, and 25.5% of participants are Indigenous producers. The program also created 13,000 direct and indirect jobs in logistics, transportation, and processing.  

The government’s broader strategy integrates sustainability into fertilizer production. Plans include reducing emissions, reusing water, remediating contaminated soils, and utilizing CO2-neutralization projects like reforestation.  

This initiative aligns with the National Energy Plan, which emphasizes strengthening PEMEX’s financial structure, improving investment capacity, and fostering renewable energy projects under partnerships involving both public and private sectors.