VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA—(Marketwire – April 28, 2009) – For the first quarter of 2009, Methanex (TSX:MX)(NASDAQ:MEOH)(SANTIAGO:Methanex) reported Adjusted EBITDA(1) of $13.1 million and a net loss of $18.4 million ($0.20 per share on a diluted basis). This compares with Adjusted EBITDA of negative $13.3 million and a net loss of $3.9 million ($0.04 per share on a diluted basis) for the fourth quarter of 2008.

Bruce Aitken, President and CEO of Methanex, commented, “Despite the current environment of weaker demand and lower methanol prices, we generated positive cash flow from operations during the first quarter. In addition, our first quarter results would normally have been higher, however our cost structure had not fully adjusted from the higher methanol price environment last year and this negatively impacted our results.”

Mr. Aitken added, “Global methanol demand stabilized during the first quarter, and we have seen some improvement in demand recently, particularly in China where imports have increased significantly over the past few months. Entering the second quarter, our average posted contract price has decreased marginally, as prices in Europe and North America have trended downward, while the price in Asia has strengthened.”

Mr. Aitken concluded, “With US$313 million of cash on hand at the end of the quarter, low leverage, no near term refinancing requirements and a US$250 million undrawn credit facility, we are in a strong financial position and we are committed to maintaining financial strength and flexibility to meet our financial commitments through this period of uncertainty and continue to invest to grow the Company.”

A conference call is scheduled for April 29, 2009 at 11:00 am ET (8:00 am PT) to review these first quarter results. To access the call, dial the Telus Conferencing operator ten minutes prior to the start of the call at (416) 883-7132, or toll free at (888) 205-4499. The passcode for the call is 45654. A playback version of the conference call will be available for fourteen days at (877) 245-4531. The reservation number for the playback version is 668311. There will be a simultaneous audio-only webcast of the conference call, which can be accessed from our website at www.methanex.com. In addition, an audio recording of the conference call can be downloaded from our website for three weeks after the call.

Methanex is a Vancouver based, publicly traded company engaged in the worldwide production, distribution and marketing of methanol. 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.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

Information contained in this press release and the attached First Quarter 2009 Management’s Discussion and Analysis contains forward-looking statements with respect to us and the chemical industry. Statements that include the words “believes”, “expects”, “may”, “will”, “should”, “seeks”, “intends”, “plans”, “estimates”, “anticipates”, or the negative version of those words or other comparable terminology and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature identify forward-looking statements.

We believe that we have a reasonable basis for making such forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this document are based on our experience, our perception of trends, current conditions and expected future developments as well as other factors. Certain material factors or assumptions were applied in drawing the conclusions or making the forecasts or projections that are included in these forward-looking statements.

However, forward-looking statements, by their nature, involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contemplated by the forward-looking statements. The risks and uncertainties include those attendant with producing and marketing methanol and successfully carrying out major capital expenditure projects in various jurisdictions, including the on-time and on-budget completion of our new methanol joint venture project in Egypt, the ability to successfully carry out corporate initiatives and strategies, conditions in the methanol and other industries, fluctuations in supply, demand and price for methanol and its derivatives, including demand for methanol for energy uses, the price of oil, the success of natural gas exploration and development activities in southern Chile and New Zealand and our ability to obtain any additional gas in those regions on commercially acceptable terms, actions of competitors and suppliers, actions of governments and governmental authorities, changes in laws or regulations, world-wide economic conditions and other risks described in our 2008 Management’s Discussion and Analysis and the attached First Quarter 2009 Management’s Discussion and Analysis. In addition to the foregoing risk factors, the current global financial crisis and its impact on global economies has added additional risks and uncertainties including changes in capital markets and corresponding effects on the company’s investments, our ability to access existing or future credit and defaults by customers, suppliers or insurers.

Having in mind these and other factors, investors and other readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. They are not a substitute for the exercise of one’s own due diligence and judgment. The outcomes anticipated in forward-looking statements may not occur and we do not undertake to update forward-looking statements.

(1)

Adjusted EBITDA is a non-GAAP measure that does not have any standardized meaning prescribed by Canadian generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) and therefore is unlikely to be comparable to similar measures presented by other companies. Refer to Additional Information – Supplemental Non-GAAP Measures in the attached First Quarter 2009 Management’s Discussion and Analysis for a description of each supplemental non-GAAP measure and a reconciliation to the most comparable GAAP measure.

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For further information, contact:

Jason Chesko
Director, Investor Relations
Methanex Corporation
604-661-2600

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