Brazil and Mexico Discuss Oil Exploration Partnership
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1 hour ago
0mins
Should l Buy PBR?
Source: seekingalpha
- Exploration Partnership Proposal: Brazilian President Lula discussed a potential collaboration between Brazil's Petrobras and Mexico's Pemex for oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico at depths of 2,500 meters, aiming to enhance energy cooperation between the two nations.
- Pemex's Challenges: President Sheinbaum is struggling to find private partners to help Pemex revive its oil production, which has plummeted to half of its peak from 20 years ago, and this partnership could provide much-needed technical and financial support.
- Strategic Reserve Initiative: Lula suggested that Brazil and Petrobras consider establishing a strategic oil reserve similar to those maintained by the U.S. to address emergencies and mitigate supply disruptions, which would enhance Brazil's stability in the global energy market.
- Refinery Buyback Plan: Lula announced Petrobras's intention to repurchase the Mataripe refinery in Bahia, which was sold to Abu Dhabi's Mubadala in 2021, indicating a commitment to restoring Brazil's refining capacity, although he acknowledged that the process may take time.
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Analyst Views on PBR
Wall Street analysts forecast PBR stock price to fall
2 Analyst Rating
2 Buy
0 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 19.780
Low
13.30
Averages
15.15
High
17.00
Current: 19.780
Low
13.30
Averages
15.15
High
17.00
About PBR
Petroleo Brasileiro SA Petrobras is a Brazil-based company. The Company specializes in the oil, natural gas and energy industry. The Company is engaged in prospecting, drilling, refining, processing, trading and transporting crude oil from producing onshore and offshore oil fields and from shale or other rocks. Its segments include Exploration and Production (exploration, development, and production of crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas); Refining, Transportation, and Marketing (refining, logistics, transport, trading of oil products, ethanol export, shale processing); Gas and Power (transportation and trading of natural and imported gas); Biofuels (production of biodiesel and ethanol); Distribution (fuel distribution); and Corporate (administrative and support functions).
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Exploration Partnership Proposal: Brazilian President Lula discussed a potential collaboration between Brazil's Petrobras and Mexico's Pemex for oil exploration in the Gulf of Mexico at depths of 2,500 meters, aiming to enhance energy cooperation between the two nations.
- Pemex's Challenges: President Sheinbaum is struggling to find private partners to help Pemex revive its oil production, which has plummeted to half of its peak from 20 years ago, and this partnership could provide much-needed technical and financial support.
- Strategic Reserve Initiative: Lula suggested that Brazil and Petrobras consider establishing a strategic oil reserve similar to those maintained by the U.S. to address emergencies and mitigate supply disruptions, which would enhance Brazil's stability in the global energy market.
- Refinery Buyback Plan: Lula announced Petrobras's intention to repurchase the Mataripe refinery in Bahia, which was sold to Abu Dhabi's Mubadala in 2021, indicating a commitment to restoring Brazil's refining capacity, although he acknowledged that the process may take time.
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- Gas Discovery: Petrobras and Ecopetrol announced a natural gas discovery at the Copoazu-1 well off the Colombian coast, located at a water depth of 964 meters and approximately 8 km from the Sirius-1 and Sirius-2 wells, confirming the presence beyond the primary objective and expanding one of South America's most promising hydrocarbon plays.
- Reserve Estimates: According to Ecopetrol, the Sirius area holds estimated reserves exceeding 6 trillion cubic feet, marking it as Colombia's largest-ever gas discovery, which is expected to significantly enhance the country's energy self-sufficiency and market competitiveness.
- Refinery Capacity Increase: Petrobras CEO Magda Chambriard indicated that the company's refineries are set to operate at 98.5% capacity in April, amidst a longer-than-expected conflict in the Middle East, demonstrating the company's resilience in navigating external market volatility.
- Import Dependency Risks: While most of Brazil's diesel is produced locally by Petrobras, approximately 25% is imported, leaving the country vulnerable to rising international oil prices, particularly since the onset of the war.
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- Oil Giant Performance: Brazilian state-controlled Petrobras reported $23.6 billion in revenue for Q4 2023, a 13.4% year-over-year increase driven by an 11% rise in oil and gas production, highlighting its strong position in the South American market.
- Dividend Policy Advantage: Petrobras currently offers a dividend yield of approximately 4.5%, with a payout ratio of 32% providing room for future increases, and the forward yield is expected to approach 7.6%, attracting more investor interest.
- Stable Growth at National Fuel Gas: National Fuel Gas achieved net income of $181.6 million in Q1 of fiscal 2026, nearly quadrupling year-over-year, driven by a 14% increase in natural gas prices, showcasing its stability and growth potential in the energy market.
- Acquisition-Driven Growth: National Fuel Gas plans to acquire CenterPoint Energy's Ohio gas utility for $2.62 billion, which is expected to enhance its income from predictable sources and further solidify its position in the energy sector.
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- Acquisition Overview: Petrobras has exercised its right of first refusal to acquire a 50% stake in the Tartaruga Verde field and Espadarte Module III from Petronas for $450 million, structured through staged payments of $50 million upon signing, $350 million at closing, and two deferred payments of $25 million each.
- Enhanced Asset Management: This acquisition will restore Petrobras to 100% ownership of the offshore fields, strengthening its investment strategy in Brazil's deepwater oil and gas assets, and is expected to enhance the company's operational control over mature fields.
- Production Capacity Boost: The fields currently produce around 55,000 barrels per day, processed through the FPSO Cidade de Campos dos Goytacazes, and the acquisition is anticipated to optimize production and extend field life, thereby improving economic returns.
- Market Position Reinforcement: With this transaction, Petrobras further solidifies its dominant position in Brazil's offshore sector while marking a partial exit for Petronas from Brazilian upstream projects, reflecting a shift in its investment strategy.
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- Acquisition Announcement: Petrobras announced it will acquire Petronas' 50% stake in two offshore fields in Brazil for $450 million, resulting in 100% ownership of the Tartaruga Verde field and Module III of the Espadarte field, significantly enhancing its market position in the Campos Basin.
- Market Impact: This acquisition will not only strengthen Petrobras' asset portfolio but also optimize production efficiency and resource allocation by fully controlling these critical fields, thereby enhancing its competitiveness in the global energy market.
- Contract Secured: Brazilian vessel owner and subsea services provider Oceanica Engenharia announced securing contracts worth over $700 million from Petrobras, which will provide robust operational support and potentially drive future revenue growth for Petrobras.
- Strategic Implications: Through this acquisition and contract signing, Petrobras solidifies its leadership position in the domestic market while laying the groundwork for future expansion and investment, demonstrating its strategic positioning and long-term development plans in the global energy sector.
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- ETF Performance Decline: The iShares MSCI Brazil ETF (EWZ) has declined by 2.18% over the past week as of March 13, 2026, reflecting recent weakness in Brazilian equities, which may impact investor confidence.
- Rising Inflation Expectations: Natalia Gurushina, Chief EM Economist at VanEck, notes that a sharp increase in Brazil's inflation expectations for 2026 raises the likelihood of a policy rate pause this week, potentially affecting market liquidity and investment decisions.
- Top Holdings Ratings: Among the top five holdings in the iShares MSCI Brazil ETF, Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. - Petrobras (PBR) leads with a Quant Rating of 4.96, followed closely by B3 S.A. (BOLSY) and Vale S.A. (VALE) with ratings of 4.85 and 4.84, indicating strong performance from these companies.
- Rating System Overview: The Quant Rating system evaluates stocks based on critical metrics such as valuation, growth, stock momentum, and profitability, with ratings ranging from 1 to 5, where ratings above 3.5 are considered bullish and below 2.5 bearish, reflecting market confidence in these stocks.
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