Mexico Holds Gas Price Cap at 24 Pesos, Diesel at 27
President Claudia Sheinbaum confirmed the fiscal offset continues despite rising global oil prices tied to Middle East tensions; here's how to check prices at your Cancún gas station.
Mexico's federal government confirmed it will keep the price cap on regular gasoline at 24 pesos per liter and diesel at 27 pesos, despite an international rise in crude oil prices linked to tensions in the Middle East. The confirmation came during President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo's morning press conference on July 16, whose official transcript is published by the Presidencia de la República on gob.mx.
"We will keep gasoline at 24 pesos and diesel at 27," Sheinbaum said, adding that the strategy is meant to protect household finances and help contain inflation.
According to the briefing, the mechanism behind both caps is fiscal: the government lowers the Special Tax on Production and Services (IEPS) applied to fuels, and offsets that cost with the additional revenue Petróleos Mexicanos (Pemex) pays the treasury through the levy on the value of its production — equal to 30 percent of it — which grows as crude prices rise. According to the Presidencia, the net balance of this arrangement for the treasury currently stands at roughly 20 billion pesos.
What it means for Cancún
The 24-peso cap applies only to regular (green) gasoline, the fuel most commonly purchased in the Cancún metro area; premium gasoline and other fuels are not covered by the scheme. Because each station sets its own price within that ceiling, it is normal to see differences of several centavos — and occasionally more than one peso — between stations in different parts of the city.
How to check prices and where to file a complaint
The Federal Consumer Protection Agency (Profeco) publishes a weekly price comparison called "Quién es Quién en los Precios" and runs the Litro por Litro mobile app, tools meant to help drivers see which Cancún stations charge less and which deliver a full liter. Anyone who finds regular gasoline priced above 24 pesos per liter can report it to Profeco at 55 5568 8722 or through the agency's official channels, which also periodically publish the stations charging the highest prices. Before fueling, Profeco recommends checking that the pump reads zero and keeping the receipt as proof in case of a complaint.
Sources
- Profeco — Quién es Quién en los Precios — Gobierno de México
- Versión estenográfica. Conferencia de prensa de la presidenta Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo del 16 de julio de 2026 — Presidencia de la República / Gobierno de México
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