1 Jul 2025
The Philippines is expected to reduce its rice imports this year as improved local production eases pressure on foreign procurement, according to official sources. The anticipated decline in import levels comes after stronger harvests in both the dry and upcoming wet cropping seasons.
Data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) reveals that rice imports as of mid-June 2024 stood at 2.002 million tonnes (mt) — a 14.4% drop from the 2.34 mt recorded during the same period in 2023.
“Last year, traders ramped up imports due to poor domestic yields caused by El Niño and La Niña weather disturbances,” said Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa. “This year, however, we’ve seen better dry season production and are optimistic about a successful wet season harvest. As a result, we expect overall rice imports to decline.”
Vietnam remains the leading supplier of rice to the Philippines, accounting for 74.9% of total imports. So far in 2024, Vietnam has shipped approximately 1.5 mt of rice. Myanmar ranks second with a 14.6% share, followed by Thailand (5%) and Pakistan (3.6%). The Philippines also imports rice in smaller quantities from India, Cambodia, South Korea, Singapore, Japan, Italy, and Spain.
On the domestic front, palay (unhusked rice) production reached 4.698 mt in the first quarter of 2024, slightly up from 4.685 mt during the same period last year, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The country’s rice import policy has also undergone revisions following Executive Order No. 62, signed in June 2024, which sets a 15% tariff on imported rice through 2028. The tariff rate will be reviewed every four months to ensure market balance.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. noted that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has recommended a gradual and strategically timed increase in the rice import duty. The goal is to eventually restore the tariff to 35%, while minimizing market disruption. The DA has proposed aligning the increase with harvest periods in major exporting nations — around late September for Vietnam and December for Pakistan.
Laurel emphasized that an abrupt 20-percentage-point hike could risk destabilizing domestic rice prices. “We’ve advised a phased adjustment in order to cushion both local and global markets,” he said.
As the Philippines continues to strengthen its food security framework, the combination of improved local harvests, diversified import sources, and responsive trade policies is expected to play a crucial role in ensuring rice price stability and availability.