Overview
- Mexico's lower house approved a fiscal draft that raises the IEPS on sugary drinks from 1.64 to 3.08 pesos per liter for 2026, pending Senate review.
- Pascual asked deputies to earmark support in the 2026 budget or grant a differentiated fiscal regime to keep the cooperative viable.
- The company projects up to a 60% sales decline and about 600 million pesos in additional payments, while stating it does not plan to pass the tax to consumers.
- Management paused the planned Nuevo Laredo plant opening and halted development of a no-added-sugar product, citing risk to 4,500 jobs and the assets of 785 members.
- Holding roughly 2% of the market against multinationals that use cheaper high-fructose inputs, Pascual argues the change would worsen competitive imbalances and affect cane growers.