Methanex to Temporarily Shutdown Operations in Chile

Methanex Corporation

announced today it expects to idle its Chile operation in March 2013 due to anticipated insufficient natural gas supply. Methanex is currently operating one plant in Chile at low operating rates. In 2013, planned output from this plant represents less than 5% of Methanex's total production. John Floren, President and CEO, Methanex Corporation, commented, "Due to continued natural gas supply challenges, we do not expect to have sufficient feedstock to keep our Chile plant operating through the southern hemisphere winter. Our current expectation is that resumption of our plant operation would be possible later in the year." Methanex is a Vancouver-based, publicly traded company and is the world's largest supplier of methanol to major international markets. Methanex shares are listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange in Canada under the trading symbol "MX"; on the NASDAQ Global Market in the United States under the trading symbol "MEOH"; and on the Foreign Securities Market of the Santiago Stock Exchange in Chile under the trading symbol "Methanex". Methanex can be visited online at www.methanex.com.