A man rests on sacks of rice along a street in Manila on May 9, 2024. Photo by AFP
The Philippines imported 1.7 million tons of rice in the first five months of 2025, down 20.9% from a year ago.
This reduction is attributed to a slight uptick in domestic rice production during the first quarter of the year, with output reaching 4.69 million tons, marginally higher than the 4.68 million tons recorded in the same quarter of the previous year.
Despite this downturn, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that the Philippines will remain the world’s leading rice importer in 2025, with imports expected to rise to 5.4 million tons, and further increase to 5.5 million tons in 2026.
This anticipated growth is driven by factors such as population increase, heightened tourism, and the staple nature of rice in the Filipino diet.
In response to these dynamics, the Philippine government has implemented measures to stabilize rice prices and ensure affordability. Under an executive order signed in June 2024, the tariff on imported rice was reduced to 15% and is set to remain at this level until 2028, subject to periodic reviews every four months.
Secretary of Agriculture Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. has indicated that the Department of Agriculture may propose a gradual increase in import tariffs during the upcoming harvest season to support local farmers and manage the influx of imported rice.
These developments reflect the Philippines’ ongoing efforts to balance domestic agricultural productivity with the necessity of rice imports to meet national consumption demands.
