Rice imports reached all-time high in first semester
The country’s rice imports hit an all-time high in the first semester as traders scrambled to stockpile amid soaring farm input costs and the anticipated El Niño phenomenon later this year.
The Philippines imported 2.75 million metric tons (MT) in the first six months, up 20.1 percent from 2.29 million MT in the same period a year ago, data from the Bureau of Plant Industry showed.
The latest figure marked the highest level of rice import arrivals since 2019. This was the year when the Rice Tariffication Law was enacted, liberalizing rice trading.
At a press briefing on Wednesday, Department of Agriculture (DA) Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said the increase in rice imports was a “natural response” to various challenges facing the agriculture sector.
“Although imports are higher now, the challenges we are facing now are different compared to last year and in 2024. In 2024 and 2025, we also experienced El Niño,” said De Mesa, also the DA spokesperson.
De Mesa said higher import arrivals were “justifiable” as these ensure sufficient supply to meet the demand for the household staple.
During the last El Niño episode, local palay (unmilled rice) production declined by around 1 million MT.
De Mesa said the damage in the Upper Pampanga River Integrated Irrigation Systems, coupled with soaring fuel and fertilizer prices due to the Middle East crisis, also affected domestic production.
“Although the planted area recovered in the second quarter, we are facing the challenges of high petroleum prices, which will increase farmers’ production costs and transportation costs,” he told reporters.
The US Department of Agriculture projected that rice import arrivals would rise by 2 percent to 5.2 million MT in marketing year 2026 to 2027. This is due to the expected decline in domestic milled rice production and continued demand growth.
