Can you discuss ANIQ's most significant milestones over the past year?

In 2024, we celebrated ANIQ's 65th anniversary, consolidating the association's role as the leading representative of the chemical industry in Mexico. Our main function is to create conditions that allow the chemical industry to be competitive and attract investment to the country. Mexico has a great opportunity to attract investment, not only in the chemical industry but also in many other industrial sectors. Securing a stable and competitive supply of feedstocks for our industry is key; it would allow us to grow the industry and be an important supplier of materials for other industries that want to invest in the country. Given the right conditions, our industry can double its size in the next 15 years.

Our industry produces around US$22 billion/y of petrochemicals, contributing over 2% of our country's GDP. Because of the feedstock situation in Mexico, any growth has been due to imports of petrochemicals from the US, which supplies over 60% of our imported supply. We are highly integrated and believe we can continue collaborating for the benefit of the region and companies on both sides of the border. Through investment in the industry, we want to reduce imports gradually. We are optimistic on this front, given that the new government has stated that increased production of petrochemicals is one of its key objectives. 

How has ANIQ's experience been in dialogue with the new government?

We have been able to have meetings with the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Energy. Our interactions with their teams in the transitional period have been fruitful, as we have communicated our industry's priorities and developed good relations. It is fundamental today to make known the relevance of the chemical industry in the world and the megatrends that are shaping the world today. In all of them, the chemical industry plays an important role, such as the energy transition. We also need competitive supply and an industrial policy that materializes advances in infrastructure. The country must invest in port, rail and road infrastructure, and we must work to optimize border crossings and customs checks. Our industry represents over US$55 billion of trade, so this point is very important; we want to see advanced technologies introduced and implemented to make the trading process more agile.  

What are the chemical industry's priorities regarding energy policy? 

There are two fundamental issues: raw materials and access to electricity. We must encourage more domestic natural gas production through PEMEX to spur the development of the chemical industry. 

The electricity issue is more complicated. The government remains firm on its commitment to having the CFE supply 54% of the country's electricity needs, which limits private investment. We need to grow the supply of electricity and must invest in sufficient transmission infrastructure. Because of the government's commitment to the CFE, these investments will rely on the public sector. Another important point is to increase the generation of electricity through renewable energy. Having a green electricity matrix will be a great competitive advantage for our industry and our country's export potential. 

Can you discuss the importance of the USMCA for the chemical industry? 

The upcoming review of the USMCA in 2025 will be of enormous importance to the chemical industry. We are working with our counterparts in Canada and the US to ensure conditions that will permit our sector to continue trading, that our regulations are aligned with science, and that we can build a globally competitive integrated energy and petrochemical market. Our supply chains are incredibly integrated, and the government recognizes that our industry is essential, which has invited us to be part of the negotiation table. 

What are ANIQ's priorities for 2025?

We will keep highlighting the importance of the chemical industry for our economy and the need for a competitive and reliable feedstock supply to implement the energy transition in Mexico and generate the proper conditions for nearshoring. We are optimistic about the future of the chemical industry, and our agenda reflects this; we will continue to work hard to find more convergence with the present administration as we all share the same ultimate objective, which is to make the country more prosperous.