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Mexico’s exports soar on AI-driven electronics demand, but oil deficit continues to grow

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MND Staff
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oil barrels for import
Mexico's oil exports have declined this year and its petroleum imports have increased significantly, putting the country on track to record its largest ever petroleum deficit. (Shutterstock)

The value of Mexico’s exports increased almost 40% year over year in September and rose more than 30% in the first nine months of 2026, according to data published on Tuesday by the national statistics agency INEGI.

Mexico’s exports were worth US $77.79 billion in September, an increase of 37.9% compared to the same month of last year. It was Mexico’s third-highest monthly export total on record, after July and August of this year.

exports
Mexico has logged record-breaking exports for the past three months: July, August and September. (Aldward Castillo/Unsplash)

In the first nine months of 2026, Mexico’s exports were worth $627.19 billion, an increase of 30.4% compared to the same period of 2025. The value of Mexico’s exports in the January-September period was just $37.6 billion less than the total for all of 2025, which was a record high of $664.8 billion.

It is practically guaranteed that the value of Mexico’s exports will exceed the 2025 total in the January-October period of 2026.

INEGI’s latest trade data also shows that Mexico’s outlay on imports in the first nine months of the year increased 27.5% compared to the same period of 2025 to reach $617.94 billion.

Consequently, Mexico recorded a trade surplus of $9.25 billion between January and September. Mexico is thus on track to record a trade surplus for a second consecutive year after recording deficits between 2021 and 2024.

Mexico’s strong export growth in 2026 has been driven by a surge in sales of non-automotive manufactured goods — especially computer and electronic equipment — to the United States, where an AI-driven data center boom is underway.

Meanwhile, Mexico’s oil exports have declined this year and its petroleum imports have increased significantly, putting the country on track to record its largest ever petroleum deficit (see below).

Non-auto exports surge 53% in September, rise 46% so far this year 

Manufactured goods accounted for 93.5% of the total value of Mexico’s exports in September.

The full breakdown of INEGI’s export data for September — including year-over-year increases — is as follows:

  • Exports of manufactured goods were worth $72.77 billion, an increase of 39%.
  • Exports of non-automotive manufactured goods were worth $56.34 billion, an increase of 53%. Within that category, Mexico’s exports of electric and electronic equipment and devices increased 94.7%.
  • Exports of manufactured automotive goods (including vehicles) were worth $16.43 billion, an increase of 5.7%.
  • Mining sector exports were worth $1.93 billion, an increase of 66.8%.
  • Petroleum exports were worth $1.8 billion, an increase of 9.6%.
  • Agricultural exports were worth $1.28 billion, an increase of 4.6%.

The full breakdown of INEGI’s export data for the first nine months of 2026 is as follows:

  • Exports of manufactured goods were worth $578.59 billion, an increase of 31.7%.
  • Exports of non-automotive manufactured goods were worth $436.64 billion, an increase of 46%.
  • Exports of manufactured automotive goods were worth $141.96 billion, an increase of 1.3%.
  • Mining sector exports were worth $16.6 billion, an increase of 74.1%.
  • Petroleum exports were worth $16.35 billion, a decline of 0.2%.
  • Agricultural exports were worth $15.64 billion, a decline of 2.4%.

Spending on imports on track to set a new record in 2026

Mexico imported goods worth $78.4 billion in September, an increase of 33.1% compared to the same month of last year. Spending on imports in the first nine months of the year — $617.94 billion — was just $46 billion less than Mexico’s total outlay in 2025, which was a record high of $664.06 billion.

Data on imports in the first 10 months of 2026 will almost certainly show that Mexico’s spending in that period exceeded the record set last year.

The full breakdown of INEGI’s import data for the first nine months of 2026 — including year-over-year increases — is as follows:

  • Imported non-petroleum goods were worth $575.9 billion, an increase of 28.2%.
  • Imported petroleum products were worth $42.03 billion, an increase of 19.4%.
  • Imported intermediate goods (including non-petroleum and petroleum products) were worth $497.04 billion, an increase of 33.4%.
  • Imported consumer goods (including non-petroleum and petroleum products) were worth $77.14 billion, an increase of 9.9%.
  • Imported capital goods were worth $43.76 billion, an increase of 4.8%.

Mexico’s oil trade deficit exceeds $25 billion 

As noted above, Mexico’s oil exports were worth $16.35 billion in the first nine months of 2026, a year-over-year decline of 0.2%. In the same period, Mexico imported petroleum products worth $42.03 billion, a year-over-year increase of 19.4%.

Consequently, Mexico recorded an oil trade deficit of $25.68 billion between January and September. That amount is higher than the $25.55 billion oil deficit Mexico recorded in 2025.

If Mexico’s oil deficit continues to increase in the final three months of 2026, as expected, it will record its highest oil deficit on record.

INEGI’s data indicates that Mexico is still a long way off achieving its goal of self-sufficiency for fuel, including gasoline. The country’s outlay on petroleum-based consumer goods — i.e., fuel — in the first nine months of 2026 increased 27.7% year over year to reach $14.04 billion.

The energy-focused publication Factor Energético reported that the increase in imports of petroleum-based consumer goods “warrants special attention due to its potential impact on supply and the domestic market’s exposure to international prices.”

Mexico spent $27.99 billion on petroleum-based intermediate goods between January and September, a year-over-year increase of 15.7%.

With reports from El Economista, Expansión and Factor Energético

Government invests US $60M to restore polluted, drought-impacted Lake Pátzcuaro

By
MND Staff
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President Claudia Sheinbaum, who spearheaded the clean-up plan, toured the Quiroga Wastewater Treatment Plant on Saturday, thanking the workers involved in the rehabilitation projects.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, who spearheaded the clean-up plan, toured the Quiroga Wastewater Treatment Plant on Saturday, thanking the workers involved in the rehabilitation projects. (Hazel Cárdenas/Presidencia)

As part of the Plan Michoacán for Peace and Justice, the National Water Commission is investing 1.1 billion pesos (US $60 million) in the Lake Pátzcuaro Sanitation Plan, in order to restore the environmental health of one of the most emblematic bodies of water in Mexico.

Lake Pátzcuaro — a popular vacation region and an international landmark — is home to a rich biodiversity, including endemic species of birds, fish and other aquatic organisms.

It is a central part of a region in western Mexico comprising archaeological, historical, recreational and cultural sites linked to the heritage of the Indigenous Purépecha peoples, lending identity, sustenance and life to the communities that surround it.

However, agricultural, industrial and domestic activities — especially the excessive use of fertilizers and pesticides and the discharge of untreated wastewater — have seriously degraded the water quality in the lake.

Six wastewater treatment plants are being renovated — in Las Garzas, Janitzio, San Pedrito, Quiroga, Tzintzuntzan and San Andrés Ziróndaro — and four new plants are being built — in San Juan Tumbio, Ihuatzio, Tzurumutaro and Quiroga. 

More than 116 kilometers of sanitary sewer lines are being reconditioned and 10 area wetlands will be rehabilitated. Conagua will also oversee dredging and hydrological restoration to help reduce pollution in Lake Pátzcuaro.

These actions will be complemented by the removal of water hyacinth and a reforestation project, as well as the construction of terraces in the surrounding hills to contribute to the environmental recovery of the basin.

A completely dried out section of Lake Patzcuaro in Mexico, with cracks in the lake bed
Lake Pátzcuaro’s water levels have declined in recent years to the point that some areas of the lakebed continuously dry up. (Juan José Estrada/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum, who spearheaded the clean-up plan, toured the Quiroga Wastewater Treatment Plant on Saturday, thanking the workers involved in the rehabilitation projects. She also praised the Michoacán government for its effort to recover the springs that supply water to the ecosystem.

“The conservation of this ecosystem is fundamental for the communities of the region,” she said, adding that her administration will continue to support projects aimed at recovering Michoacán’s natural resources.

Luis Roberto Arias Reyes, the director of Conagua’s Michoacán office, said the Sanitation Plan will directly benefit more than 142,000 residents of the municipalities of Pátzcuaro, Tzintzuntzan, Quiroga and Erongarícuaro by providing more efficient hydraulic and sanitary infrastructure for wastewater management.

In a press release, the Michoacán government said the Lake Pátzcuaro clean-up project will generate economic growth for the Indigenous communities of the islands of Janitzio, Tecuena, La Pacanda and Yunuén, as well as for lakeshore towns such as Urandén and Huecorio, which depend on fishing and tourism as pillars of their economy.

With reports from ContraRéplica, El Sol de Morelia, La Jornada and Cambio de Michoacán

8% salary increase among ’12 actions in 120 days’ promised by IMSS director: Tuesday’s mañanera recapped

By
MND Staff
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IMSS director Zoé Robledo
IMSS director Zoé Robledo presented a plan of "12 actions" to be completed in 120 days in response to protests by IMSS workers. (Gabriel Monroy/Presidencia)

Sheinbaum’s mañanera in 60 seconds

  • 🏥 Robledo presents 12-action plan for IMSS: IMSS director Zoé Robledo presented a plan of “12 actions” to be completed in 120 days in response to protests by IMSS workers. It includes an 8% salary increase, the transition of almost 11,000 temporary workers into permanent positions, the hiring of 2,500 specialist doctors and the provision of more than 18,000 additional beds and gurneys. The plan also promises “guaranteed” medicines and medical supplies, a program to clear the surgical backlog and the “strengthening” of emergency departments.
  • 🇧🇷 Sheinbaum recounts “very emotional” call with Lula: The president said her Monday phone call with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva was brief and that the reelected Brazilian president was “very happy, very excited” about the response from Brazilians at the ballot box. Sheinbaum said she invited Lula to visit Mexico and he invited her to go to Brazil. The two agreed to talk again to set a date and agenda for the visits.
  • 🗳️ Sheinbaum rejects claims Morena is to blame for INE problems: A day after endorsing Guadalupe Taddei’s resignation as National Electoral Institute (INE) president, Sheinbaum reiterated her call for a comprehensive audit of the electoral authority. She pushed back on journalist Carlos Loret de Mola’s claim that “Taddei is Morena,” saying: “Don’t come and tell us… that Morena is the problem.” Sheinbaum noted that Taddei was elected INE president in 2023 by the Chamber of Deputies.

Why today’s mañanera matters

Improving Mexico’s public healthcare system is one of the various challenges faced by the Sheinbaum administration, which has now been in office for almost 25 months. Deficiencies in the system have been brought into sharp focus this month by protesting workers from the Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS), Mexico’s largest public healthcare provider.

At President Sheinbaum’s Tuesday morning press conference, IMSS general director Zoé Robledo presented a plan aimed at improving conditions in IMSS hospitals and for IMSS workers, whose demands have included higher pay, the hiring of additional healthcare personnel in order to ease excessive workloads and an end to shortages of medicines and medical supplies.

The plan is the federal government’s most comprehensive response to IMSS workers’ complaints and demands. Its presentation came four days after the government unveiled a new initiative aimed at resolving long-running problems related to the supply and distribution of medications.

Government turning to AI to solve the acknowledged problem of medication shortages

Whether the government’s latest initiatives significantly improve conditions in IMSS healthcare facilities and satisfy workers remains to be seen. Medicine shortages have persisted despite government efforts to address the problem through initiatives such as the establishment of a “mega-pharmacy” in 2023 and the creation of a distribution scheme called “Rutas de la Salud” (Health Routes) last year.

Also of note at today’s mañanera were Sheinbaum’s remarks about her telephone conversation on Monday with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who was reelected on Sunday.

The president indicated that she will travel to Brazil at some point in the not-too-distant future.

A key focus of face-to-face talks between Sheinbaum and Lula would likely be the fledgling partnership between Mexico’s Pemex and Brazil’s Petrobras that is aimed at boosting oil production in the Gulf of Mexico.

Robledo presents 12-action plan for IMSS 

Early in the press conference, Robledo presented a plan for IMSS healthcare facilities consisting of “12 actions” to be completed in a period of 120 days starting today.

He said that the actions in the plan “stem from what the [IMSS] workers themselves told us” and are needed.

The 12 “actions” of the plan Robledo presented are as follows:

  • An 8% salary increase for IMSS workers.
  • The transition of almost 11,000 temporary workers into permanent positions.
  • The hiring of 2,500 specialist doctors.
  • The provision of 100 pieces of high-tech medical equipment to IMSS hospitals.
  • The provision of 2,917 other pieces of medical equipment to IMSS hospitals.
  • The provision of more than 18,000 additional beds and gurneys to IMSS hospitals.
  • The commencement of a “permanent maintenance” program.
  • The “guaranteed” provision of medicines and medical supplies.
  • The “complete” provision of medications in IMSS pharmacies.
  • The commencement of a program aimed at clearing the surgical backlog in IMSS hospitals.
  • The provision of specialist medical appointments in December. (Robledo explained that appointments scheduled for December have commonly been rescheduled to January or even February.)
  • The “strengthening” of emergency departments, including via the hiring of additional personnel.

Sheinbaum recounts ‘very emotional’ call with Lula 

Sheinbaum told reporters that her telephone conversation with Lula on Monday was “very emotional.”

“As you can imagine, he is very happy, very excited about the response from the people of Brazil” in Sunday’s election, she said.

“It was a brief call and I invited him to come to Mexico and he invited me to go to Brazil,” Sheinbaum said.

“We agreed to talk at another time to confirm and to set a date and agenda for these visits,” she said.

Sheinbaum rejects claims that Morena is to blame for problems at the INE 

A day after endorsing Guadalupe Taddei’s decision to resign as president of the National Electoral Institute (INE), Sheinbaum reiterated her call for a comprehensive audit of the electoral authority to be carried out.

Taddei resigned amid allegations that lucrative INE contracts were improperly awarded to companies controlled by a businessman with whom she has a close personal relationship.

After advocating “constant audits” of the INE, Sheinbaum rejected claims that the ruling Morena party is responsible for improper conduct at the INE.

“Don’t come and tell us, like [journalist Carlos] Loret de Mola did yesterday, that Morena is the problem,” she said.

Sheinbaum highlighted that Taddei was elected INE president in 2023 by the Chamber of Deputies.

Taddei’s election occurred via sortition — also known as selection by lottery — as none of the candidates for president of the INE had the support of the required two-thirds of lawmakers in the lower house of Congress. At the time of her election, questions were raised about her family links to both the government and Morena.

In an El Universal column published on Monday under the headline “Taddei is Morena,” Loret de Mola described Taddei as a “morenista” and effectively accused the INE of favoring the ruling party under her leadership.

By Mexico News Daily chief staff writer Peter Davies (peter.davies@mexiconewsdaily.com)

Mexico’s Charlyn Corral is named Best Striker of the Year at soccer’s biggest award ceremony

By
MND Staff
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Charlyn Corral
Corral, a forward for Club Pachuca Femenil, is the first Mexican woman soccer player to earn the coveted distinction. (Graciela López/Cuartoscuro)

Mexican soccer player Charlyn Corral, 35, received the Gerd Müller trophy for Best Striker of the Year during the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony on Monday, making history as the first Mexican woman soccer player to earn the coveted distinction.

“It fills me with pride and great satisfaction. After a career spanning more than 20 years, I realize today that the hard work, discipline and effort have been worth it,” Corral said during her acceptance speech at the London Palladium Theatre in London.

 

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A post shared by Liga Femenil BBVA (@ligafemenilbbva)

This is only the second time the award has been presented in the women’s category; the only other player to have received this recognition is Ewa Pajor, who won it in 2025 with 48 goals.

Corral, 35, who scored 49 goals across 49 matches for Club Pachuca Femenil and the women’s national team, shared the honor with English forward Harry Kane of Bayern Munich. Kane received the same award in the men’s category and was also the night’s biggest winner, taking home the Golden Ball. 

“I think that when you do things with great faith — but, above all, with your heart — everything is worth it,” Corral added, dedicating her award to Club Pachuca’s management and coaching staff.  

She also thanked her parents and her brother, “who have been, are and will be the foundation and support of my career,” she said.  

Corral highlighted Mexico’s support for women’s soccer, noting that she knows things in the country “are being done well,” and asked the audience to recognize her compatriot Scarlett Camberos, forward for Club América Femenil, for being ranked among the 30 best players in the world in the nomination for the main Ballon d’Or. 

The Gerd Müller trophy adds to Corral’s previous accolades.  

Earlier this year, the forward was recognized by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) as the world’s top goalscorer in 2025 for the second consecutive year with 57 goals, including 50 for Pachuca and seven for the national team.

While playing with Pachuca, Corral has won the 2025 Clausura tournament of the Liga Femenil and the 2024–2025 Campeón de Campeones. 

With reports from La Jornada and ESPN

‘Soy Frankelda’: The perfect family plan for a very Mexican Halloween

By
Carolina Alvarado
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Film still from the Mexican film "Soy Frankelda."
The first Mexican feature filmed entirely in stop-motion animation, "Soy Frankelda" is a must-watch this Halloween season. (Netflix)

If you’re looking for a movie to watch with your family this Halloween and want to avoid overly violent content or the same old repetitive classics, there’s a new option you should check out. It’s “Soy Frankelda” (“I Am Frankelda”), the first Mexican feature film animated entirely in stop-motion.

Directed by brothers Arturo and Roy Ambriz and produced under the creative mentorship of Guillermo del Toro, this film stands out for its dazzling technical craftsmanship, its balance between the spine-chilling and the endearing, and its focus on profound themes such as the power of imagination, artistic resilience in the face of rejection and the struggle for creative autonomy.

It’s currently available worldwide on Netflix and on Max in Latin America.

This ambitious film debut expands the animated universe that Cartoon Network Latin America introduced with the hit series “Los Sustos Ocultos de Frankelda” (“Frankelda’s Book of Spooks”), an anthology of horror stories narrated by the titular character. Over the course of its 113-minute runtime, the new film details the origins of the mysterious Topus Terrentus — also known as The Land of Spooks — and reveals how the dreamer Francisca Imelda evolves into the powerful ghostwriter Frankelda.

I Am Frankelda | Official Trailer | Netflix

Praised by Screen Anarchy as “a universal and timeless tale destined to inspire” and described by IndieWire as “a lovingly handcrafted feast for the eyes,” “Soy Frankelda” envelops viewers in an atmosphere of lighthearted horror, perfect for a family Halloween screening.

Below, we outline four essential reasons to watch it this season.

Resilience and overcoming adversity: A story everyone can relate to

This gothic fantasy is set in Real del Monte in 1866, where we follow the journey of the imaginative horror writer Francisca Imelda (voiced by Mireya Mendoza), who is constantly marginalized by her community’s gender prejudices. Her life changes dramatically when she is approached by Herneval (Arturo Mercado Jr.), the prince from the Topus Terrentus, an enigmatic alternate dimension that serves as a reflection of her own mind.

Transformed into a sort of specter, Francisca ventures into this psychological landscape inhabited by the creatures born from her pen. There, she discovers that her characters have taken on a symbolic identity of their own and that the balance between fiction and reality is on the verge of collapsing. Together with Herneval, our fearless protagonist must confront Procustes (Luis Leonardo Suárez), the Royal Nightmare Maker, who has disrupted the flow of terror in the real world and is plotting to take over everything that exists. Saving the Topus Terrentus thus becomes an act of literary resistance: to prevent its destruction, Francisca must defend her calling against the forces seeking to silence her and claim control over her creations.

Beyond its elements of dark fantasy, the film also serves as a brilliant coming-of-age story. At the beginning of the film, the protagonist must face the real challenges of her environment: discrimination, rejection, frustration and the fear of failure. However, by exploring her own subconscious, this young woman manages to claim her identity and define her place in the face of those who try to suppress her.

The journey of self-discovery in “Soy Frankelda” offers a lesson that any viewer can relate to and that is worth remembering: Resilience is the ultimate weapon for protecting one’s calling, healing inner wounds and defending one’s talent against any form of oppression.

The charm of stop-motion: Puppets that exude mystery and natural strangeness

Produced in Mexico with indomitable resilience, “Soy Frankelda” stands as a beacon and a monumental milestone in Latin American animation.

Bringing the country’s first stop-motion feature film to life took more than three years and was a true odyssey for the Cinema Fantasma studio. The project involved moving forward without industry backing, stretching a modest budget and navigating constant logistical setbacks — all while keeping some 20 animation units working in parallel. However, this complex and sometimes chaotic process ultimately shaped one of the most visually ambitious films the genre has ever seen.

Great Mexican television series that have returned in 2026 (and two more we can’t wait to see)

In a market oversaturated with virtual graphics and automation, this film stands out for its “handmade” style and vibrant originality. The technical crew integrated 2D textures, oil paintings for the backgrounds, cardboard cutouts and more than 190 puppets crafted with meticulous care. Overall, the design of Topus Terrentus shines with its imperfect and irregular charm. Every scene and each of its extravagant inhabitants — ranging from winged creatures and spider-like beings to an imposing two-headed griffin — demonstrate the team’s tremendous commitment to a daring visual vision.

It is precisely this magnetic imperfection that makes the film an ideal Halloween experience. In this sense, the irregular rhythm of the stop-motion animation conveys a “natural strangeness” and a three-dimensional presence that digital animation cannot replicate. This creates an atmosphere that is both unsettling and beautiful, evoking the classic spirit of dark fairy tales.

It’s worth noting that, although its content is suitable for all ages and takes care to avoid being visually jarring, the ideal age to explore this universe is 7 and up.

A spectacular gothic musical

Although directors Arturo and Roy Ambriz admit that they did not originally conceive this production as a musical, the soundscape — created by Mexican composer Kevin Smithers — took on such power that it ultimately shaped the spirit of the feature film.

“Soy Frankelda” is elevated by a dazzling soundtrack that features theatrical melodies and dramatic orchestral arrangements. It is not merely background music, but a narrative driving force that propels the story forward with complete fluidity.

Inspired by 19th-century Gothic Romanticism, the score uses piano and string arrangements to reflect Francisca’s initial isolation, her subsequent awakening and the somber grandeur of Topus Terrentus. This soundscape — winner of the prestigious Public Choice Award at the World Soundtrack Awards in Belgium — is complemented by an innovative approach: the incorporation of choirs singing in Enkárik, an original language created by a team of specialists to imbue Topus Terrentus with a mystical, ancient and supernatural atmosphere.

Operatic pieces such as “Eres Verdad, Eres Ficción” (“You Are Truth, You Are Fiction”) and “El Príncipe de los Sustos” (“The Prince of Spooks”) stand out in this solid repertoire. Not only do they serve important narrative purposes, but they also get under your skin, making it impossible to turn off the screen without finding yourself humming their melodies.

Rich Mexican mythology

“Soy Frankelda” is a proudly Mexican film, and that is evident in every aspect of it. It’s fair to say that the directors succeeded in honoring their country’s roots without resorting to clichés or common stereotypes. Or, as Roy Ambriz explained to El País: “All of our characters … are not the stereotypes that Mexican characters sometimes fall into. What’s important is to create a new Mexican aesthetic.”

“Soy Frankelda” directors Arturo and Roy Ambriz have succeeded in making a proudly Mexican film without resorting to stereotypes. (Lizardi Saucedo/Wikimedia Commons)

Ultimately, the Topus Terrentus is a fusion of two powerful currents: the iconic illustrations of Gustave Doré and the mysticism of Mexican folklore. While the European style shapes the architectural framework of the spaces, caves and ruins of The Land of Spooks, local culture permeates the heart and evolution of the feature film. From the very beginning — and especially when crossing the veil into this extravagant dimension — the screen is filled with ingenious nods to the country, such as the Maya aluxes, the tradition of alebrijes and even a portrayal of general and dictator Porfirio Díaz.

This rich identity, which pays a heartfelt tribute to the land and its people, is another reason why this film deserves to be celebrated and enjoyed.

The perfect family plan for Halloween

“Soy Frankelda” has all the ingredients to become the ultimate family movie of the season.

A visual style brimming with fascinating creatures? Yes. An unforgettable gothic musical atmosphere? Yes. A dazzling mythology inspired by Mexican folklore? Yes. And a deeply human journey of self-discovery? Definitely yes!

Best of all, the film captivates fans and new viewers alike, with no prior knowledge of the series required.

If you need one more reason to dive into this universe, the endorsement from Guillermo del Toro himself — shared with Espinof — will dispel any doubts: “It’s a milestone for Mexican stop-motion animation. A true triumph of vision, tenacity and love for this craft.”

So turn off the lights and get ready for a very Mexican Halloween.

Carolina Alvarado is a Venezuelan journalist who has devoted much of her career to creative writing, university teaching and social work. She has been published in Lady Science, Latina Media, Global Comment, Psiquide, Cinetopic, Get Me Giddy and Reader’s Digest, among others.

PAN names 6 state coordinators ahead of 2027 gubernatorial elections

By
MND Staff
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Felipe Fernando Macías Olvera, mayor of Querétaro city and a former federal deputy, is the PAN's pick for governor of Querétaro.
Felipe Fernando Macías Olvera, mayor of Querétaro city and a former federal deputy, is the PAN's pick for governor of Querétaro. (@AccionNacional/X)

The National Action Party (PAN) has now announced its presumptive gubernatorial candidates in six states after unveiling its pick in Querétaro on Sunday.

Gubernatorial elections will be held in 17 of Mexico’s 31 states on June 6, 2027. Voters will also elect 500 federal deputies and thousands of other officials at the state and municipal level on the same day.

As is the case with Morena, Mexico’s ruling party, the PAN is calling its presumptive gubernatorial candidates “state coordinators.”

In the PAN’s case, the presumptive candidates’ full title is “state coordinators for the defense of the homeland, the family and freedom.” They are almost certain to be officially designated as the party’s candidates at a later date.

The six presumptive gubernatorial candidates selected so far by the PAN are listed below in alphabetical order by the states they are seeking to govern. The PAN — currently Mexico’s main opposition party — governs four of Mexico’s 32 federal entities, including three states that will hold gubernatorial elections next year (Aguascalientes, Chihuahua and Querétaro).

The PAN’s presumptive gubernatorial candidates

  • BAJA CALIFORNIA SUR (BCS): Francisco Pelayo Covarrubias, a federal deputy (currently on leave) and a former BCS state lawmaker and ex-mayor of Comondú, one of the five municipalities in BCS. The state is currently governed by Morena under the leadership of Governor Víctor Manuel Castro Cosío. It includes the municipality of Los Cabos, one of Mexico’s premier coastal tourist destinations.
  • CHIHUAHUA: Marco Antonio Bonilla Mendoza, former mayor of Chihuahua city. Chihuahua is currently governed by the PAN under the leadership of Governor Maru Campos. The PAN’s governance of the northern border state has been in the spotlight this year after it emerged that CIA agents allegedly participated in a drug lab raid there without the authorization or knowledge of the federal government.
  • MICHOACÁN: Alfonso Martínez Alcázar, mayor of Morelia, the state capital, and a former state and federal deputy. Michoacán is currently governed by Morena under the leadership of Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla. The state made international headlines almost a year ago when the mayor of Uruapán, Carlos Manzo, was assassinated. The federal government responded to the murder and general insecurity in the state with “Plan Michoacán for Peace and Justice,” a 57-billion-peso initiative.
Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla (L) represents Morena as the governor of Michoacán. The PAN has nominated Mayor of Morelía Alfonso Martínez Alcázar (R) to replace him in 2027.
Michoacán Governor Alfredo Ramírez Bedolla (L) is one of 12 Morena governors whose terms of office are up in 2027. The PAN has nominated Mayor of Morelia Alfonso Martínez Alcázar (R) to replace him. (Cuartoscuro)
  • TLAXCALA: Miriam Martínez Sánchez, a deputy in the Tlaxcala Congress and wife of the PAN’s leader in the state, Ángelo Gutiérrez Hernández. Tlaxcala, Mexico’s smallest state by area, is currently governed by Morena under the leadership of Governor Lorena Cuéllar Cisneros.
  • QUERÉTARO: Felipe Fernando Macías Olvera, mayor of Querétaro city and a former federal deputy. Querétaro is currently governed by the PAN under the leadership of Governor Mauricio Kuri. The Bajío region is Mexico’s main data center hub, attracting billions in investment in recent years.
  • ZACATECAS: Miguel Ángel Varela Pinedo, mayor of Zacatecas city and a former federal deputy. Zacatecas is currently governed by Morena under the leadership of Governor David Monreal.

The PAN has not yet named its presumptive gubernatorial candidates in Aguascalientes, Baja California, Campeche, Colima, Guerrero, Nayarit, Nuevo León, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosí, Sinaloa or Sonora. It is possible that the PAN and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) will nominate common gubernatorial candidates in some states. The PRI has not yet named any presumptive gubernatorial candidates.

Morena completed the selection of its 17 “state coordinators for the transformation and national sovereignty” last month. The party founded by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is currently in office in 23 of Mexico’s 32 federal entities.

With reports from El Financiero, SDP Noticias, Expansión, Político MX and El Economista

Government turning to AI to solve the acknowledged problem of medication shortages

By
MND Staff
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President Sheinbaum presented the members of the new Advisory Council for the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector Friday. (Rogelio Morales/Cuartoscuro)

President Claudia Sheinbaum has introduced an Advisory Council for the Digital Transformation of the Health Sector, aimed at improving control, storage and distribution of medications.

The move was in response to supply shortages publicized during recent mobilizations by Mexican Social Security Institute (IMSS) workers. The president has acknowledged the legitimacy of the complaints.

IMSS protest OCT 2026
One outcome of the recent mobilization by aggrieved IMSS workers is a greater public awareness of the problem of medical supply shortages in public hospitals and health centers. (Estrella Josento/Cuartoscuro)

According to an announcement made during Sheinbaum’s morning press conference on Friday, the council will be divided into two groups of experts. 

The first group will be the Advisory Board composed of four researchers specializing in logistics, engineering, information systems, and resource distribution, while the second group — dubbed the Youth AI Team — will be made up of five individuals specialized in artificial intelligence. 

The project will use digital tools and AI to detect medication shortages, track warehouse inventory and expedite delivery to public hospitals and health centers.

“What we want is to modernize the system to ensure that the entire process — from procurement, warehousing and arrival at the hospital pharmacy, to distribution across various hospital departments and delivery to patients — is automated, so that we know the exact traceability of every medication,” Sheinbaum said on Friday.

Members of the council are expected to present their initial projects in November. The federal government plans to begin implementing the new system in January 2027.

Deputy Health Minister Eduardo Clark said the program aims to identify medication needs in real time, improve inventory management, and optimize distribution routes to reduce both time and costs. If a medication is unavailable at one pharmacy, healthcare staff would be able to determine whether it is in stock at another health facility or warehouse and arrange for its delivery.

Public healthcare workers plan more protests this week to demand better pay and working conditions

The scale of the program’s challenge, however, is considerable. 

According to figures presented by Clark, the health sector uses approximately 3 billion units of medicines and medical supplies each year. The products must be distributed among more than 1,000 hospitals and nearly 15,000 health centers and primary care units.

Sheinbaum explained that the lack of medication does not always stem from non-procurement. She noted that there are instances when medications have been purchased but fail to reach medical facilities on time, due to difficulties in the processes of storage, distribution and delivery.

Also, Sheinbaum’s administration recently said it has identified practices in which medications from the public sector end up being sold privately and, in some cases, outside of hospitals.

With reports from Latinus, Eje Central, La Silla Rota and Infobae

Mining giant Grupo México plans to expand its US copper operations to the tune of US $4-6B

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MND Staff
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Asarco mining
Grupo México will invest heavily over the next three years in expanding operation of its U.S. mining unit, Asarco, including its Ray and Silver Bell mines and old Hayden smelter in Arizona. (Asarco)

The mining and transportation conglomerate Grupo México announced on Thursday plans to double down on its investments in its U.S. copper mining unit, Asarco.

Grupo México plans to spend between US $4 billion and $6 billion over the next three years on Asarco projects, to expand the Ray and Silver Bell mines in Arizona and restart the Hayden smelter and refinery, the head of the mining division, Leonardo Contreras, told analysts on a call.

The investment is far higher than recent spending on the unit, which totaled just $101 million in 2024, and marks a significant expansion in the U.S. market.

It follows news of a 2% fall in copper output during the third quarter due to lower production in the U.S. and Peru. Even so, the firm’s profits grew by 56% during this period to a net profit of US $2 billion, owing to robust base metal prices. Overall revenue increased by 38% to $6.33 billion, surpassing consensus estimates from analysts polled by LSEG. 

Corporate leadership has revised the company’s copper production target downward to 1.026 million metric tonnes in 2026, from the previously targeted 1.034 million tonnes.

Contreras emphasized that work is continuing on expanding the Ray facility as feasibility studies are conducted. In addition, the company is “increasingly optimistic” about the restarting of Hayden, which has an annual processing capacity of 1.4 million metric tonnes of copper concentrate.

“That would represent almost 350,000 metric ⁠tonnes of contained copper,” Contreras said. “If that feeds into our refinery, we could be looking at 500,000 metric tonnes of copper.”

The Silver Bell project is also in the feasibility stage, according to Contreras.

Grupo México plans to assess the potential to integrate Mexican concentrates and U.S. copper scrap into U.S. operations, according to Itaú analysts.

Grupo México’s focus on Peru 

Grupo México will also continue expanding operations in Peru.

Its long-term growth focuses closely on its Peru operations through its Southern Copper subsidiary, with the delayed flagship Tia Maria project expected to finally come online in the first half of 2028.

Southern Copper is developing two other projects in Peru — Los Chancas and Michiquillay, both of which are expected to commence operations in 2032 and are expected to produce 130,000 and 225,000 metric tonnes of copper a year, respectively. 

With reports from Reuters, Mexico Business News and Mexico Now 

Morelia festival wraps 24th edition; ‘Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building’ takes top honors

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MND Staff
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Cast and crew of “6 meses en el edificio rosa con azul,” which follows an 11-year-old boy discovering his feelings for his best friend as his family confronts his father’s HIV diagnosis in 1990s Mexico City. 
Cast and crew of “6 meses en el edificio rosa con azul,” which follows an 11-year-old boy discovering his feelings for his best friend as his family confronts his father’s HIV diagnosis in 1990s Mexico City. (FICM)

A childhood memory reshaped into fiction won big at the recently concluded Morelia International Film Festival, with “6 meses en el edificio rosa con azul” (“Six Months in a Pink and Blue Building”) taking both the judges’ top prize and the audience award.

The double win — the Ojo for best Mexican feature and the audience award in the same category — marked a meeting of jury and moviegoer tastes that the newspaper El Universal described as rare on the festival circuit.

Trailer de Seis meses en el edificio rosa con azul (HD)

The 104-minute Spanish-language drama is the first fiction feature by Bruno Santamaría Razo, a documentary filmmaker born in Mexico City in 1986.

Planned for a 2027 theatrical release in Mexico — with no streaming dates yet announced — the film follows an 11-year-old boy discovering his feelings for his best friend as his family confronts his father’s HIV diagnosis in 1990s Mexico City. 

Reconstructing family memories through imagination rather than strictly retelling events, the film premiered at Cannes Critics’ Week, becoming the first Mexican feature to compete in the section in 20 years.

The 24th edition of the Morelia International Film Festival (FICM) was held in the Michoacán capital from Oct. 16 through Sunday.

For its 25th anniversary next year, FICM officials are promising a landmark edition with major guests, bold retrospectives and a stellar lineup — and it will move the dates to the week immediately before the Day of the Dead.

This year’s festival included 96 Mexican films in competition, alongside international screenings, retrospectives and tributes.

The guest list was strong, as usual, with appearances by directors Guillermo del Toro (“Pan’s Labyrinth”) and Alfonso Cuarón (“Roma”), along with “Y Tu Mamá También” stars Diego Luna and Gael García Bernal — underscoring Morelia’s standing as a gathering place for Mexican cinema.

Diego Luna at Morelia International Film Festival
Diego Luna’s highly acclaimed film adaptation of Brenda Navarro’s “Ceniza en la boca” had its national premiere at Morelia International Film Festival on Oct. 18. (Edgar Negrete Lira/Cuartoscuro)

International guests included U.S. director James Gray, who presented “Paper Tiger,” which competed for the Palme d’Or at Cannes this year. The winner at Cannes, “Fjord,” also played in the FICM.

Festival president and Cinépolis CEO Alejandro Ramírez described this year’s event as a particularly Mexican celebration.

Mexican Nicolás Pereda won best director for “Lo demás es ruido” (“Everything Else Is Noise”), an absurdist comedy about a musician preparing for her first television interview. Its star, Teresa Sánchez, also a Mexican, won best actress.

Sam Louwyck of Belgium took best actor for playing a gay hairdresser in Mexican Nathalia Acevedo’s “Salón de belleza” (“Beauty Salon”).

Mexican Joaquín del Paso’s “El jardín que soñamos” (“The Garden We Dreamed”), about a Haitian family traveling north, earned a special mention and the cinematography award.

Mexican Fernanda Tovar received the first-time director award for “Chicas tristes” (stylized as “Sad Girlz” in translation), about two teenage girls supporting each other after one is sexually abused. Pablo Vaca’s “Forensita” won best Mexican documentary feature.

With reports from El Universal, Variety, Animal MX and Proceso

4 new international air routes announced, including a direct flight from Italy to Cozumel

By
MND Staff
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Neos flights Milan-Cozumel
Neos airlines' planned weekly flights from Milan's international airport to Cozumel marks the island's first-ever direct air route from anywhere in Europe. (Neos)

Mexico is set to expand its international connectivity this coming winter with a new route between Milan and Cozumel operated by the Italian airline Neos, and three new connections from Mexico City to the United States offered by Aeroméxico. 

The flight between Milan’s Malpensa Airport and Cozumel will begin operations on Dec. 24, with weekly Thursday flights operating onboard a Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft. 

Lara Lezama
Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama made the announcement of the first-of-its-kind route from Milan to Cozumel: “We continue to open new doors to the world so that more visitors — travelers of all kinds — can discover the beauty of Cozumel.” (Mara Lezama)

Quintana Roo Governor Mara Lezama referred to the new service as the island’s first direct air connection with Europe.

“We continue to open new doors to the world so that more visitors — travelers of all kinds— can discover the beauty of Cozumel, the ‘Island of the Swallows,’ and everything our Mexican Caribbean has to offer,” Lezama said. 

She highlighted the expansion of Cozumel’s airport, which includes a new terminal. According to local media, the airport reported 65% completion in July and is expected to be operational by early 2027. 

Aeroméxico’s expansion in the US

Aeroméxico has scheduled daily flights from Mexico City International Airport (AICM) to Santa Ana/Orange County, California; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; and Portland, Oregon.

According to the global aviation analytics company Cirium, cited by Aviation Club Center, the services are set to begin on Jan. 10, 14, and 21, 2027, respectively, using Boeing 737 aircraft. These dates are subject to change before operations commence.

The expansion follows the U.S. Department of Transportation’s decision on Oct. 16 to lift restrictions that had prevented expanded operations from AICM and AIFA. The dispute centered on the allocation of airport slots and the relocation of cargo flights to Felipe Ángeles Airport. 

Aeroméxico’s three new services will bring the airline’s total to 21 weekly departures to the U.S.

With reports from Quequi, Aviation Club Center, El Financiero and López Dóriga

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