Mexico’s heavily-indebted state oil company Pemex will seek to avoid pricy capital markets even as it faces billions in maturing debts this year and next, its chief executive told Reuters, saying Pemex had been “punished” by rating agencies despite measurable improvements in its operational numbers.
With its financial debt totaling nearly $108 billion at the close of last year, Pemex must pay down some $8.2 billion expiring this year and another $9 billion more in 2024 in both bonds and long-term bank loans.
When other liabilities – such as revolving credit lines and interest – are included, Pemex is facing repayments of $24 billion this year, putting the company in a challenging refinancing position.
“We are exploring all (the options),” the company’s CEO Octavio Romero said in an interview on Tuesday afternoon at his office in Mexico City, adding that they had not ruled out the possibility of offering potential lenders guarantees backed by crude oil.
Romero’s boss, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, has long favored stronger state control over the energy sector, repeatedly pledging to “save” the Mexican oil giant at all costs.
Asked whether Pemex would avoid returning to debt markets after an especially expensive bond issuance in January, he responded: “Yes, yes, we are going to try to find the best, cheapest mechanism.”
Romero said he hopes Pemex will not have to ask for more help from state coffers – but he did not rule it out.
“That is the great benefit of two very important government entities working hand-in-hand,” he said, referring to the finance ministry and Pemex, Mexico’s biggest company and largest contributor to state revenues.
Romero hit back at credit rating agencies that have “punished” Pemex by declaring its bonds speculative grade, or junk, which made its borrowing more expensive. He said the agencies were ignoring progress made by current management on boosting production, lowering debt, and keeping reserves stable.
In 2020, Fitch Ratings and Moody’s Investors Service became the first two major rating agencies to strip Pemex of its investment grade status, with the latter pushing it deeper into speculative grade last year.
Moody’s, Standard & Poor’s, and Fitch Ratings all declined immediate comment.
Though Pemex has shaved off some of its debt under new management amid high oil prices, it made a meager profit of about $1.2 billion last year, despite the oil boom boosting its income by 60% to $123 billion. Much of it was eaten up by high costs including the purchase of petroleum products for resale, financial costs, taxes, and fees.
Source: El Financiero
