Mexico’s state-owned energy and petrochemicals giant Pemex has taken its low-density polyethylene (LDPE) plant at La Cangrejera offline for scheduled maintenance, according to market sources.
A contact in Mexico reported that the facility was halted on August 22, 2025, though the precise duration of the outage has not been confirmed. An official statement from Pemex is still awaited. The La Cangrejera-based LDPE unit has a nameplate production capacity of 105,000 metric tons per year, making it a notable supplier of polyethylene to the domestic and regional markets.
Market observers suggested that while the shutdown was anticipated, uncertainty around the length of the outage is causing some nervousness among buyers who rely on Pemex material. The Mexican LDPE market has been relatively stable in recent weeks, but traders warned that prolonged downtime could tighten regional availability, particularly if competing suppliers in the U.S. or South America raise offers in response.
At the same time, ample inventories across Latin America and subdued downstream demand in packaging and film applications may cushion the immediate impact of the outage. Many converters remain hesitant to secure large volumes, adopting a wait-and-watch approach until clarity emerges on Pemex’s restart schedule and import flows from key trading partners.
Industry participants emphasized that the restart timeline will be closely monitored, as any extended delay could shift buying patterns in the region. For now, sentiment remains cautious, with the market balancing the potential for tighter supply against the reality of weak demand fundamentals across polyethylene markets.
