Veracruz Governor seeks to prevent San Pedro Sugar Mill closure

Veracruz Governor Rocío Nahle García is leading efforts to prevent the permanent closure of the San Pedro Sugar Mill in Lerdo de Tejada following its recent cessation of operations due to financial difficulties. The mill, a major economic driver in the Papaloapan region, employs approximately 500 permanent and temporary workers and supports nearly 1,000 additional jobs, impacting up to 7,000 people including sugarcane producers.

Nahle has requested intervention from Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (Sader) to engage with the owners, Grupo Porres. While negotiations continue to explore alternatives—such as finding new investors or implementing specialized maintenance programs—workers have not yet received their liquidations or outstanding wages.

To mitigate the immediate economic impact, the state government has begun distributing food baskets to affected employees. Nahle has also dismissed a controversial letter circulating online, which was falsely attributed to Grupo Porres, stating that the company has denied authorship and that official communications have remained respectful.