Rice prices surged 22% in early August

Average retail prices of rice nationwide increased in early August, ahead of the start of the harvest season in September, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its latest report on prices of agricultural commodities, the PSA said regular milled rice averaged P49.61 per kilogram from Aug. 1 to Aug. 5, up 22.16 percent from P40.61/kg during the same period in 2025.

This was also slightly higher than the P49.32/kg average recorded in early July and P49.30/kg later that month.

The higher rice prices come as the Department of Agriculture (DA) braces for what could be a weaker third-quarter palay harvest, primarily due to the anticipated effects of El Niño.

In an earlier report, the PSA projected that third-quarter palay production could fall 13.3 percent to 3.25 million metric tons (MT) during the July-to-September period. By comparison, palay output grew 5.7 percent to 4.63 million MT in the second quarter.

“Galunggong,” another staple in many Filipino households, averaged P241.67/kg in early August, up 6.2 percent from P227.60/kg during the same period last year.

Cooking oil likewise became more expensive, with prices rising 8.42 percent to P200.04 per liter from P184.50 last year.

Cheaper meat

Prices of some agricultural commodities, meanwhile, moved in the opposite direction.

Fresh pork with bones averaged P301.06/kg in early August, down from P307.60/kg a month earlier and P333.74/kg in the same period last year.

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String beans also became cheaper, with their average retail price falling to P104.10/kg from P114.52/kg in early July. This was also below the P112.92/kg recorded a year earlier.

Meanwhile, Hawaiian ginger averaged P164.07/kg, slightly higher than P161.53/kg in early July but still lower than P185.65/kg a year ago.

Carabao mangoes posted a sharper month-on-month increase, with their average retail price rising to P156.17/kg from P145.75/kg in early July.

Despite the increase, mangoes remained cheaper than a year earlier, when prices averaged P164.07/kg.