It has been a year since the federal judge declared Mexico's largest steelmaker, Altos Hornos de México (AHMSA), bankrupt, but the company's future remains uncertain as the sale of its assets has not yet been finalized.

According to data from the National Chamber of the Iron and Steel Industry (CANACERO), since its suspension in 2023, steel prices in the domestic market have increased by 18%. Because AHMSA's production capacity, around 4 million tons per year, was not available, domestic steel consumers were forced to import steel, mainly from the United States, China, and Brazil, in order to meet domestic steel demand.

Even though the national industries urged to settle down the sale of AHMSA asap and to be able to supply to the domestic market, concerns about US tariffs, AHMSA's US$302 million debt and the new investment required to resume steel production are making potential buyers of AHMSA, both domestic and international, more cautious, which could further delay or complicate the sale process.