Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- Petroleos Mexicanos, the state-owned oil company, lifted September production 2.2 percent to 2.599 million barrels a day from the previous month, said Energy Minister Georgina Kessel in an interview today.

September production was the highest since May, when Mexico pumped 2.609 million barrels a day, Kessel said in an interview in Mexico City on the 17th floor of the ministry’s offices.

September output was down 4.5 percent from the year-earlier period, when Mexico produced 2.722 million barrels a day.

Kessel said overall production will decline at a slower pace to an average of 2.5 million barrels a day in 2010, and remain at this level through 2012.

To contact the reporter on this story: Peter Millard in Mexico City at pmillard1@bloomberg.net; Carlos M. Rodriguez in Mexico City at carlosmr@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: October 21, 2009 18:00 EDT