Heavy Winds, High Waves Close Mexican Ports

Mexico's Pajaritos oil export terminal and Dos Bocas port, which also handles oil tankers, were both closed to shipping, the Transport Ministry said in a routine report.

Pajaritos, a Gulf port located in the Coatzacoalcos complex in the southern state of Veracruz, closed at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, according to a port official. He said weather conditions on Wednesday included winds of 19-25 mph (30-40 km per hour), and 8-foot (2.5-meter) waves.

Dos Bocas, also on the Gulf of Mexico in the southeastern state of Tabasco has been closed since 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday, the port official added. Weather conditions at the port on Wednesday were waves of 10-12 ft. (3-3.5 meters), and winds of 25 mph (40 km per hour).

The Pajaritos, Dos Bocas and Cayo Arcos ports, all on the Gulf coast, handle the vast majority of Mexico's crude oil shipments, which averaged 1.757 million bpd in August.

Mexico's other oil ports - Cayo Arcos in Campeche state and Salina Cruz, a Pacific Ocean port in Oaxaca - were open on Wednesday, the ministry said in its report.