Short-term borrowings (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2012

Debt Disclosure [Abstract]

Schedule of Short-term Debt [Table Text Block]

The breakdown of short-term borrowings due to financial institutions, together with contractual interest rates, is as follows:

	December 31,
(In thousands of US$)	2012			2011
Advances from financial institutions:
At fixed interest rates		1,181,133			1,005,357
At floating interest rates		267,890			318,109
Total short-term borrowings		1,449,023			1,323,466
Average outstanding balance during the year		967,629			1,100,059
Maximum balance at any month-end		1,449,023			1,323,466
Range of fixed interest rates on borrowings in U.S. dollars		0.75% to 1.92	%		0.84% to 2.64	%
Range of floating interest rates on borrowings in U.S. dollars		1.06% to 1.99	%		1.11% to 2.01	%
Fixed interest rate on borrowings in Euros		0.70	%		2.98	%
Fixed interest rate on borrowings in Renminbis		-			6.65	%
Floating interest rate on borrowings in Mexican pesos		5.14% to 5.25	%		5.70	%
Weighted average interest rate at end of the year		1.48	%		1.84	%
Weighted average interest rate during the year		1.79	%		1.22	%

The balances of short-term borrowings by currency, is as follows:

	December 31,
(In thousands of US$)	2012		2011
Currency
U.S. dollar		1,365,500		1,181,200
Euro		39,633		38,850
Mexican peso		43,890		93,109
Renminbis		-		10,307
Total		1,449,023		1,323,466