Mexico reactivated foreign investment arrivals in natural gas pipeline transportation in 2024, with an inter-annual growth of 15.4 percent.
Thus, Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) inflows to Mexico rose to 2.222 billion dollars, according to data from the Ministry of Economy.
Gas pipeline transportation
U.S. natural gas pipeline exports to Mexico totaled 2 trillion 335 billion cubic feet in 2024, an increase of 4.6% year-over-year.
Year-over-year, these sales have registered steady growth since at least 2019, when they were 1.8 trillion cubic feet, according to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
What is the natural gas imported into Mexico used for? To produce electricity in thermoelectric plants of the Federal Electricity Commission (CFE) and for industrial production in plants that manufacture a wide variety of products, from steel and cement to chemicals and manufactured goods.
Other minor uses include: as fuel for public transportation and cargo fleets, as well as for heating, hot water and cooking in homes and businesses.
The following indicates the trend of FDI flows in pipeline gas transportation in Mexico, in millions of dollars:
- 2019: 339.
- 2020: 70.
- 2021: 2,259.
- 2022: 879.
- 2023: 1,925.
- 2024: 2,222.
Exports from the United States
Pipelines in Texas are privately owned. Several oil and gas companies operate and maintain them. Therefore, the private sector assumes responsibility for their construction and maintenance.
On the other hand, pipelines in Mexico belong mainly to the federal government through the Secretaría de Energía. Consequently, the construction and maintenance of this infrastructure depends, for the most part, on the Mexican government.
These are the natural gas pipeline exports from the United States to Mexico, in billions of cubic feet:
- 2019: 1,865.
- 2020: 1,990.
- 2021: 2,154.
- 2022: 2,079.
- 2023: 2,242.
- 2024: 2,335.
In Mexico, natural gas pipelines are mostly owned by the Federal Government and managed by CENAGAS. This entity operates and maintains SISTRANGAS.
In addition, some private companies such as TC Energy, IEnova, Fermaca and ENGIE manage pipelines under contracts or permits from the CRE, facilitating imports from the United States.