20 money losers

Mexico's state-owned petroleum company recorded a net loss of $1.7 billion in 2007, reversing a gain of about $4.2 billion in 2006. The company said the decline was due to an increase in taxes - according to news reports, the taxes Pemex pays provide more than a third of the government's fiscal income - and an increase in fuel imports to meet local demand. (Mexico today imports about 40% of the gasoline it consumes domestically.)

Part of the problem is Pemex's aging facilities: Its main offshore oil field is old and output is slowing. Pemex recently said it may build a new refinery to reduce gasoline imports.

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