Philippines rice imports surge past 4-million tons to cushion drought shock
The Philippines imported 4.07 million tonnes of rice from January to September, up 24% year-on-year, led by Vietnam with 2.73 million tonnes. Imports could exceed five million tonnes this year as authorities build buffer stocks against El Niño-related production losses projected at up to 700,000 tonnes.
The Philippines imported over four million metric tons (MT) of rice in the first nine months of the year, as traders ramped up purchases to build buffer stocks amid projections of weaker local production.
Latest data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed that rice imports reached 4.07 million MT from January to September, up 24 percent from 3.28 million MT in the same period last year.
The nine-month volume already surpassed full-year shipments of 3.39 million MT recorded last year by over 20 percent, BPI data showed.
The Philippines sourced the bulk, or 67 percent, of its imported rice from Vietnam, with a total of 2.73 million MT, maintaining the country’s standing as its top rice supplier.
The country also imported 552,667 MT of rice from Thailand, more than triple the 176,865 MT recorded last year. Other suppliers included Myanmar (418,854 MT), Pakistan (216,693 MT), Cambodia (127,152 MT), and India (26,556 MT).
Broken down, 93 percent, or 3.79 million MT, of total imports during the nine-month period consisted of regular rice, while the remaining 286,053 MT were classified as special rice.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) expects rice imports to exceed five million MT this year, topping the record 4.81 million MT set in 2024. Meanwhile, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) projects that Philippine rice imports could hit 5.5 million MT this year before expanding to 5.7 million MT in 2027.
The surge in foreign purchases is aimed at bolstering national reserves ahead of anticipated dry spells driven by an intensifying El Niño. The DA estimates that losses in palay (unmilled rice) production could reach up to 700,000 MT this year due to the weather phenomenon.
However, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) warned that the country could lose around 650,000 MT in the third quarter alone, even before the full brunt of a strong El Niño, due to shrinking harvest areas.
To boost the domestic agriculture sector’s resilience, the DA is seeking ₱45 billion in funding for targeted response measures. The proposed budget will fund fuel and fertilizer subsidies, alongside infrastructure and equipment support such as water pumps, irrigation systems, and tractors.
It will also support the distribution of drought-resistant seeds to farmers temporarily switching to crops better suited for dry conditions.
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Source : Manila Bulletin
