Mexico's main crude oil ports closed for second day

MEXICO CITY, March 8 (Reuters) - Mexico's three main crude oil ports were closed to shipping for a second consecutive day as bad weather in the Gulf of Mexico caused big sea swells, the government said on Saturday.

The ports of Coatzacoalcos, Dos Bocas and Cayo Arcas, which together ship about 80 percent of Mexico's daily exports, were shut because of waves in the Gulf of up to 14 feet (4.2 meters), the transport ministry said.

Mexico is the world's No. 9 exporter of crude oil, shipping an average of 1.7 million barrels per day in 2007. It is one of the three biggest suppliers to the United States.

Mexico's crude exports have been repeatedly disrupted in recent months by bad weather and storms in the Gulf, often with shipments halted for days at a time.

State-owned oil monopoly Pemex usually reschedules shipments as soon as the ports reopen so as to keep up its supplies to refineries.

Salina Cruz, Mexico's port on its Pacific coast, remained open to shipping on Saturday. That port ships to Asian markets.

(Reporting by Chris Aspin)