BajaNomad

Pemex shortage - Call me skeptical

twogringos - 6-22-2008 at 10:02 AM

Skeptical that the shortage is caused by norte americanos.

I don't doubt that every car heading north is nearly full of fuel, and that is hundreds of thousands of gallons a day. But this didn't start last week. It has made sense (and cents) for more than a year, and more so in the last six months.

Fuel has increased about $0.20 in the last couple of weeks, but that is a marginal increase. Why would it suddenly make sense to drive to Mexico to buy fuel? If you could haul 40 gallons, you would save $8 compared to a few weeks ago, that is, if you didn't use 4 gallons to make the trip from San Diego. Yes, on 40 gallons you might save $100, but at what cost? Two to four hours round trip from San Diego? When would you do it? This shortage occurred during the work week, but surely people would take time off work to go. Do they travel in the evening between 5 and 10 PM? And why now is this worth the time if it wasn't worth it last week?

I don't know what caused the shortage. Keep in mind that this does not appear to be a marginal shortage. Fuel did not run out JUST before the tanker arrived, but nearly a week before it was scheduled to arrive. That is a lot of fuel, and if it was going to San Diego I think the traffic flow would be obvious.

I think this is a continuation of what Mexican politicians have done for the last 70 years, deflect the anger by blaming the norte americanos.

CaboRon - 6-22-2008 at 11:03 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by twogringos
Skeptical that the shortage is caused by norte americanos.



I think this is a continuation of what Mexican politicians have done for the last 70 years, deflect the anger by blaming the norte americanos.


Twogringos,

With all due respict, the blame has been going on since the "Treaty of Guadalupe" provided for the Mexican Cession in 1848. One hundred sixty years of blame.

Many still refer to it as the "War of North American Invasion" (La Intervencion Norteamericana).

CaboRon

Woooosh - 6-22-2008 at 11:12 AM

If the thousands of Americans Mexico claims really filled their tanks in Baja and caused the shortage- where did they cross back into the USA. The border wait times were unchanged. It was, and still is, a supply problem blamed on an increased demand problem that didn't exist....



"Diesel Shortage Hits Other Cities (Sun UTrib)

Despite the arrival of a gasoline cargo tanker yesterday, the diesel crisis in the Tijuana area has extended to Baja California's other major cities.
Dozens of drivers of longhaul trucks and public transit buses canceled or reduced the number of trips they made in Ensenada and Mexicali yesterday, two days after diesel started running short there.

In Tijuana and Rosarito Beach, virtually all gas stations that had been selling small amounts of diesel had closed those pumps yesterday because they had run out. Reg11lar unleaded and premium gasoline were being sold, however.

In Mexico City, meanwhile, the head of the national oil company, Pemex, was quoted as saying that Mexico needs to limit the sale of gasoline to Americans to avert another cliSlS.

Gasoline in Mexico is heavily subsidized by the federal government. Regular, 87-octane unleaded sells for $2.54 a gal- lon, 91-octane premium is $3.20 and diesel is $2.20.

Those prices were a magnet for California drivers who have flocked to Tijuana to fill their tanks. Starting June 13, Pemex was unable to meet the demand for diesel at stations nearest the border. That led to a cascade of shortages that have slowed and in some instances paralyzed the movement of people and goods in urban centers.

At the Pemex plant in Rosarito Beach, the process of moving fuel from the cargo ship to tanker trucks could take up to a day, beginning as early as today. Although trucks can start to be filled and sent to gas stations across the state, normal operations are not expected until Wednesday, Pemex workers said.

Like a scene from the postapocalyptic "Mad Max" films, about 70 fuel trucks from private companies across the state were parked outside the plant yesterday.

Most had been there for two days, said Candelario Guevara, 56, from the company Trans- porte Ponosa.

"Pemex hired us because they don't have enough vehicles to supply the entire state," he said. "We're drivers mainly from Mexicali, Ensenada and Tijuana." The news agency Notimex reported that Jestis Reyes Her01es, director general of Pemex, said in Mexico City that gas stations along the border should limit sales to U.S. citizens.

At least one gas station owner called the remarks "ridicu-, lous" and "centrist." "Bureaucrats in Mexico City don't put themselves in the shoes of those of us who live in the border," said the owner, who requested anonymity, fearing reprisals from Pemex.

"They ignore, for example, the impact such a policy would have on our local economy because U.S. citizens would stop coming over here." Omar Millan Gonzalez is a contributor to the Union-Tribune's Spanish-language paper, Enlace.

Despite the an-ival of a gaso- line cargo tanker yesterday, the diesel crisis in the Tijuana area has extended to Baja Califor- nia's other major cities. Dozens of drivers of long- haul trucks and public transit buses canceled or reduced the number of trips they made in Ensenada and Mexicali yester- day, two days after diesel start- ed running short there. In Tijuana and Rosarito Beach, virtually all gas stations that had been selling small amounts of diesel had closed those pumps yesterday be- cause they had run out. Reg11- lar unleaded and premium gas- oline were being sold, however. In Mexico City, meanwhile, the head of the national oil com- pany, Pemex, was quoted as saying that Mexico needs to limit the sale of gasoline to Americans to avert another cli- SlS. Gasoline in Mexico is heavily subsidized by the federal gov- ernment. Regular, 87-octane unleaded sells for $2.54 a gal- lon, 91-octane premium is $3.20 and diesel is $2.20. Those prices were a magnet for California drivers who have flocked to Tijuana to fill their tanks. Starting June 13, Pemex was unable to meet the demand for diesel at stations nearest the border. That led to a cascade of shortages that have slowed and in some instances paralyzed the movement of people and goods in urban centers. At the Pemex plant in Rosari- to Beach, the process of mov- ing fuel from the cargo ship to tanker trucks could take up to a day, beginning as early as to- day. Although trucks can start to be filled and sent to gas stations across the state, nor- mal operations are not expec- ted until Wednesday, Pemex workers said. Like a scene from the post- apocalyptic "Mad Max" films, about 70 fuel trucks from pri- vate companies across the state were parked outside the plant yesterday. Most had been there for two days, said Candelario Guevara, 56, from the company Trans- porte Ponosa. "Pemex hired us because they don't have enough vehi- cles to supply the entire state," he said. "We're drivers mainly from Mexicali, Ensenada and Tijuana." The news agency Notimex reported that Jestis Reyes Her- 01es, director general of Pem- ex, said in Mexico City that gas stations along the border should limit sales to U.S. citi- zens. At least one gas station own- er called the remarks "ridicu-, lous" and "centrist." "Bureaucrats in Mexico City don't put themselves in the shoes of those of us who live in the border," said the owner, who requested anonymity, fear- ing reprisals from Pemex. "They ignore, for example, the impact such a policy would have on our local economy be- cause U.S. citizens would stop coming over here." Omar Mill&n Gonzblez is a contributor to the Union-Tribune's Spanish-language paper, Enlace."

Cypress - 6-22-2008 at 11:12 AM

Might as well.:yes:, Everything else that goes haywire on this planet is blamed on the USA.:)

Woooosh - 6-22-2008 at 11:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Might as well.:yes:, Everything else that goes haywire on this planet is blamed on the USA.:)


I'm new to that line of debate on Mexico... mostly beacause I don't understand the argument starting point. Spanish conquistadors wiped out the native Mexicans en masse- a la apocalypto. Every Mexican with a spanish name is a decendent of the conquerors. When Europeans settled in the USA- they pushed west and pretty much did the same thing to the native american indians until they forced them onto reservations.

So where's the high ground in the Mexican argument? Both countries are decendents of conquerors. Mexico didn't do a good job of expansion or protecting what territory it had. More improtant though is what did each country do with their fresh opportunity in the "new world"? Americans innovated, invented and moved the whole world forward through to the industrial and information stages. Mexico stayed behind in the pre-industrial stage and let the corrupt systems of the Spanish become entrenched in their society- stunting it. What am I missing besides the Mexican pride that masks all truths of the past and prevents them from seeing themselves in the mirror as they really are.

[Edited on 6-22-2008 by Woooosh]

DENNIS - 6-22-2008 at 11:30 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh


At least one gas station owner called the remarks "ridicu-, lous" and "centrist." "Bureaucrats in Mexico City don't put themselves in the shoes of those of us who live in the border," said the owner, who requested anonymity, fearing reprisals from Pemex.



This is unbelievable. A franchisee of Pemex fears retribution from his supplier just because he has an opinion. Now, there's a special brand of Democracy for you.

toneart - 6-22-2008 at 11:46 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Might as well.:yes:, Everything else that goes haywire on this planet is blamed on the USA.:)


I'm new to that line of debate on Mexico... mostly beacause I don't understand the argument starting point. Spanish conquistadors wiped out the native Mexicans en masse- a la apocalypto. Every Mexican with a spanish name is a decendent of the conquerors. When Europeans settled in the USA- they pushed west and pretty much did the same thing to the native american indians until they forced them onto reservations.

So where's the high ground in the Mexican argument? Both countries are decendents of conquerors. Mexico didn't do a good job of expansion or protecting what territory it had. More improtant though is what did each country do with their fresh opportunity in the "new world"? Americans innovated, invented and moved the whole world forward through to the industrial and information stages. Mexico stayed behind in the pre-industrial stage and let the corrupt systems of the Spanish become entrenched in their society- stunting it. What am I missing besides the Mexican pride that masks all truths of the past and prevents them from seeing themselves in the mirror as they really are.

[Edited on 6-22-2008 by Woooosh]


Resentments don't always come with rationale, although some are derived from real bases. Resentments are very easy to build up and hold; just look around you.:rolleyes:

fulano - 6-22-2008 at 11:53 AM

Some of the local Mexican papers are now suggesting that some enterprising Mexicans have been loading their diesel tractor tanks and driving north across the border and just selling the diesel. Those big rigs can carry 500 gallons, so an enterprising driver can easily clear $1,000 profit on one load and still sell if for $1 a gallon less than it costs in the US.

bajaguy - 6-22-2008 at 11:55 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by fulano
Some of the local Mexican papers are now suggesting that some enterprising Mexicans have been loading their diesel tractor tanks and driving north across the border and just selling the diesel. Those big rigs can carry 500 gallons, so an enterprising driver can easily clear $1,000 profit on one load and still sell if for $1 a gallon less than it costs in the US.




I like it!!!!!! Capatalism at it's best. At least a few people are thinking out of the box......

DENNIS - 6-22-2008 at 12:00 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Might as well.:yes:, Everything else that goes haywire on this planet is blamed on the USA.:)


I'm new to that line of debate on Mexico... mostly beacause I don't understand the argument starting point.


Maybe this will help. Then again, maybe it won't. It addresses institutionalized blame as Mexico heavily relys on.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=...

DENNIS - 6-22-2008 at 12:03 PM

Sorry for that but, it won't give the full link. Just click on it and type in The Bear and The Porcupine.

toneart - 6-22-2008 at 12:04 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Quote:
Originally posted by Woooosh
Quote:
Originally posted by Cypress
Might as well.:yes:, Everything else that goes haywire on this planet is blamed on the USA.:)


I'm new to that line of debate on Mexico... mostly beacause I don't understand the argument starting point.


Maybe this will help. Then again, maybe it won't. It addresses institutionalized blame as Mexico heavily relys on.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?WRD=...


Dennis, try posting it again. Some of the URL did not come up. We just get a blank Barnes & Noble search page.

DENNIS - 6-22-2008 at 12:07 PM

Look above your last post, Tony. Jeezo...I don't know what I'm doing here with anything other than the ON-OFF button.

toneart - 6-22-2008 at 12:13 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Look above your last post, Tony. Jeezo...I don't know what I'm doing here with anything other than the ON-OFF button.


Thx, Dennis. Your further instructions worked. You posted that one while I was composing mine. We'll stumble through this together.:cool:

Frank - 6-22-2008 at 02:10 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by fulano
Some of the local Mexican papers are now suggesting that some enterprising Mexicans have been loading their diesel tractor tanks and driving north across the border and just selling the diesel. Those big rigs can carry 500 gallons, so an enterprising driver can easily clear $1,000 profit on one load and still sell if for $1 a gallon less than it costs in the US.


Transfer tanks in the back of pick ups are common also.

The money Ive saved in buying Diesel in Mexico is paying for my 10 day vacation driving down Baja.

rob - 6-22-2008 at 03:02 PM

Just looked up "The Bear and The Porcupine" (books on Mexico/US are rare, last one I found a good read was "Distant Neighbors", now rather dated).

This is an interesting book - used copies are almost twice as expensive as new ones. (e.g. $27 from Amazon new, from Alibris $44 used - and others up to $80!!).

Must be a collectors item.

DENNIS - 6-22-2008 at 03:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by rob
Just looked up "The Bear and The Porcupine" (books on Mexico/US are rare, last one I found a good read was "Distant Neighbors", now rather dated).




Here ya go, Rob...A bunch of stuff on Mexico and other neighbors to the south.

http://search.barnesandnoble.com/booksearch/results.asp?SID=...

Bronco - 6-22-2008 at 04:09 PM

I had the pleasure of being in SD for a few days on biz. I watched C-span and watched our leaders discuss, alternate fuels, off-shore drilling,stinking speculators etc. Then feeling ill I switched channels and found another C-span channel-2, I believe. What a delight to see T.Boone.Pickets talk to our elected fools about the o'll bidness, and drillin. A wise ol boy!

Came home and see all the trucks on the road waiting for diesel and lines of cars filling up. Why have Sempra with the huge new plant/port north of Ensenada been an inspiration to all. Buy a "micro bus" and use LNG.

Bob and Susan - 6-22-2008 at 04:13 PM

some people arrived yesterday

lots of gas

diesel was a little short until el rosario

bring a diesel can!!!:light::light:

DENNIS - 6-22-2008 at 08:23 PM

Rob....

Here's some more Mexico books.....About fifty of them, four at a time, below the Distant Neighbors info.

http://www.amazon.com/Distant-Neighbors-Portrait-Alan-Riding...

DENNIS - 6-23-2008 at 06:32 AM

Thanks Mark. All I did was cut and paste from the window up top and it came out fragmented. Oh well......I'll try to figure it out.