The curtain falls for 350 companies in ‘Operation Cleanup’
The Ministry of Economy has just given a change of direction that will shake the sector. Canceled the permits of 350 maquiladoras and steel marketers for alleged illegal practices in imports and operations. These companies are simply left without their maquiladora program and without authorization to bring in supplies.
The measure responds to information provided by the National Chamber of Iron and Steel, which allowed the identification of a total of 750 firms with possible irregularities.
And this is just the first act. Another 400 companies are under the microscope at the moment, with inspections underway here and abroad. The objective is clear: to verify if they comply with the rules of origin for importing and exporting steel products. If they find something, more suspensions will come.
A script written by multiple dependencies
This ‘Operation Cleanup’ is not a monologue. It is a collective work involving the Digital Transformation Agency, the SAT and the Mexican Customs. Together they analyze the legality of operations to combat smuggling and the misuse of economic programs.
They say they seek to protect supply chains and ensure that what is imported meets the standard. But behind the official discourse there is a reality: the Mexican steel sector has fallen in production and exports. That is why the industry supports these actions.
For steel businessmen, suspending these permits helps reduce unfair trade and strengthens national producers. However, some specialists are already raising their hands: if the affected companies are a relevant percentage of the market, we could see painful adjustments throughout the chain.
The figures give weight to the drama: between November of last year and next December, 7 million products valued at almost 933 million pesos were secured. This is not a minor scene; It is the central act of a complicated season for Mexican steel.
