Adrian Kenneth Halili – The Philippine Star

MANILA, Philippines — The country imported 2.75 million metric tons (MT) of rice in the first half, marking a record-high volume for the period, the Bureau of Plant Industry said.

Latest BPI data showed that rice imports increased by 20.1 percent, or about 460,000 MT, during the first six months from 2.29 million MT in the same period last year.

The January to June volume was the highest rice importation logged by the BPI in the first half since it began recording rice imports in 2019.

Recent rice importations already account for more than half or 57 percent of the Department of Agriculture (DA)’s full-year projection of 4.8 million MT.

DA Assistant Secretary and spokesperson Arnel de Mesa said the increase in import volume was intended to balance rice price and supply in the market, amid higher costs of fuel and fertilizers, along with the incoming El Niño weather event.

De Mesa added that while rice imports increased by 20 percent, these challenges are creating issues in the country’s rice supply, raising the need for the market to respond to demand.

“We also need a sufficient supply at a low cost, and we need to ensure the stability of our volume through the end of the year. That is why we are carefully balancing this to guarantee that prices won’t go up,” he told reporters in a press briefing.

The DA also assured farmers that the government has implemented interventions to stop the decline in farmgate prices due to rising rice imports.

He noted that the National Food Authority (NFA) would be implementing a higher buying price for locally grown palay or paddy rice during the incoming rice harvest season.

The NFA earlier said it would impose a buying price of P22 per kilo for wet palay and P27 per kilo for dry palay once the rice harvest season begins in the third quarter.

De Mesa said that the rice prices in the international market remain affordable, “it would be good for us to take advantage of the low price.”

“We also need a sufficient supply at a low cost, and we need to ensure the stability of our volume through the end of the year. That is why we are carefully balancing this to guarantee that prices won’t go up,” he added.

De Mesa stressed that any importation ban will be up to the agriculture secretary to recommend.

The Philippines remains as the world’s top rice importer, according to the US Department of Agriculture, with estimates showing that foreign rice shipment could reach 5.7 million MT this year due to lower production and the incoming drought due to El Niño.

Published Date: July 9, 2026