Mexico-Russia Trade up 40%, Countries Seek to Expand Aviation Joint Ventures

Russian Industry and Trade Minister, Denis Manturov, says Moscow is ready to supply Mexico with passenger aircrafts with the next four years.

RELATED: 
NAFTA Talks: Mexico Looks to Boost Agriculture Sector, Canada Troubled By US Demands

Manturov, on Monday, during a speech at the Russia-Mexico Trade and Industry Dialogue in the Mexico City, disclosed that Russia will provide the Central American country's airlines with MC-21 as well as Sukhoi Superjet 100 planes in a trade deal.

"The aircraft is currently undergoing tests, and we will be ready to supply the Mexican market with it starting from 2021," the minister explained. "We will, additionally, deliver eight more (Sukhoi Superjet 100) aircraft over the course of the year."

Russia currently putting finishing touches on the Irkut MC-21 jet airliner, which is designed for mass-market travel to compete with Boeing's 737 and Airbus' A320.

Interjet President Miguel Aleman Velasco told RIA Novosti that they "are very interested in the MC-21, because its components are lighter, it consumes less fuel… Its engines are from North America, but we hope that Russia will make its own engines, which will make the jet even lighter."

Interjet, the second-largest operator of Russia's Superjet, is seeking to establish an additional joint-venture with Superjet to produce spare parts for their aircraft.

"It is about establishment of an enterprise, a company to manufacture spare parts, which can be produced in Mexico, or in another country, jointly with Russians," Velasco said following a meeting with Manturov.

The twin-engine MC-21 is a short-to-mid-range airliner with a capacity for between 150-211 passengers. While the Superjet carries a twin-engine, it only has a capacity of 98.

According to Russian Export Center CEO, Petr Fradkov, trade between Russia and Mexico have trended upwards in 2017.
"In 7 months of 2017, the trade turnover between our countries has grown quite actively," Fradkov – who was in attendance at the opening of a business mission in Mexico City on Monday – explained that trade growth surpassed 40 percent.

He noted that out of $1.5 bln of trade turnover for this period, almost $1 bln accounts for non-resource exports.

"This includes exports of machinery, food products and other non-oil and gas materials," he added.

Mexican Craft Avia Center CEO, Jose de Vicente, told Sputnik that the company was interested in purchasing more than a dozen multi-purpose light helicopters from Russia in the near future.

"At the moment we have a commercial offer on the purchase of one helicopter, but we could buy up to 15 Ansat helicopters between now and 2020," de Vicente said, explaining that the helicopters could be used for transportation of VIP passengers, ambulance flights and fire-fighting.

RELATED: 
'Mexico Is Bigger Than NAFTA,' Mexico Responds to US Threats​​​​​​​

The government of Mexico – one of the largest buyer of Russian helicopters among Latin America countries – is eager to explore a partnership with Moscow to assemble helicopters.

"In the morning we met with the Mexican defense minister and were provided with a hint — to consider an opportunity of production of helicopters in Mexico, counting on the market of Latin America… We will analyze it… it is very well-timed in order to expand the opportunities of development of the Latin American markets," Manturov shared.