Supplying premium pipelines for Mexico’s gas future

Mexico

Luciano Alberto Juárez Villarreal, financial director of Tubería Laguna, talks to The Energy Year about sourcing from a diversity of international suppliers to ensure a steady stream of high-quality raw materials and the company’s growth ambitions in Mexico’s natural gas and power sectors. Tubería Laguna is a manufacturer of steel pipes for the oil and gas, construction, mining and water sectors.

Can you give us an overview of your activities in Mexico’s energy industry and your main clients?
We have been in the market for 55 years and we are truly a Mexican company, of family origin. During this time, we have been involved in the production and installation of hundreds of thousands of gas and oil pipes. We specialise in oil, gas and energy applications. They represent about 30% of our business, with around 50% of that coming from our services around deep water wells.
Our main clients in oil and gas include important global gas companies operating in Mexico, as well as important oil contractors, which are suppliers for Pemex as well as private Mexican gas companies.

What is special about the products and services you provide at Tubería Laguna?
The most important aspect is the quality. Thanks to our quality management system, one-of-a-kind in Mexico, that complies with different domestic and international applicable standards, such as the American Petroleum Institute (API-5L), we became the third. company in the world to achieve this Certification since 1977 and still valid to date.
All of our steel pipe is produced with internal quality standards even more severe than any other. Our steel pipe guarantees the strength, durability and resistance to pressure that the oil and gas industry requires. Tuberia Laguna has its own coating in-site plant, certified as well by API, ISO and other standards. We manufacture products that meet and keep satisfied our customers’ needs, through the continuous improvement of the processes, trained personnel and team work of our collaborators.
Another competitive advantage is that we sell a huge variety of specialised pipelines for liquids and gases – going from drinking water to petrol and natural gas – that range in thicknesses from 2 inches-24 inches. Our quality across the board is superior, the combination of premium steel, innovative FBE [fusion-bonded epoxy] coatings and the thickness of our products gives our clients certainty. This is key.
Our message to the industry is, “If you are looking for a premium product, come to us and we will reach an agreement.” We want to do business with serious companies. If you want to work with a partner who meets delivery schedules and gives you the quality you paid for, we are the go-to.
Also, very important to mention is our technical department, which provides technical advice and support to our customers, final users, sales force distributors through seminars and with an accurate and on time attention to the specific needs in order to have successful projects

Please tell us where you source the materials for your manufacturing facilities and about your operational and distribution capabilities at Tubería Laguna.
At our peak in 2010, we produced more than 150,000 tonnes per year, running two mills 24/7. All production takes place in La Laguna, where we have several mills specialising in different phases of the production and finishing process. We also have a laboratory certified by the Mexican Accreditation Entity where we test our products.
For distribution, we have branches in the State of Mexico, Irapuato, Guadalajara, Hermosillo and Chihuahua, from where we deliver nationwide. We also travel twice a year to the US and countries in South America to reconfirm the export contracts we have with companies there.
We acquire our raw materials from South Korea, Japan, Brazil and Turkey. In Mexico, we also have good relations with the biggest HRC suppliers (who provide us with high-quality and tailor-made products) We have a range of agreements with different companies, so if one of our suppliers encounters problems, we can turn to others to guarantee our supply. This integration with our commercial partners is very important. We are in constant search of suppliers but we only do business with the ones that meet our high standard quality and service controls.

What are your goals for 2025 and what role will international markets play in your business?
In 2025, we intend to be much more aggressive in the natural gas market. However, unlike in the water market, we do not have stock on hand to supply natural gas projects. Different clients ask for products with different specifications, meaning we must make products in batches. The idea is to push hard in the oil and gas sector and arrange meetings with companies in the space that can bring us many projects and contracts
60% of the electricity in Mexico is produced with natural gas. It is the transition fuel, and we want to go knocking on doors to make sure that we can participate in every project that is within our range and capacity. We aim for 20-25% of our sales to be in the gas sector in 2025.
Regarding exports, about 10-15% of our business comes from international markets, mainly the US. The US market is peculiar because the big wholesalers collect inventories, meaning that one year they may buy a lot and the next they may go on a diet. The volumes of business can vary significantly.
Our business intention for the next few years is to grow in the gas markets of Central and South America.

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