By: Jordeene B. Lagare – Reporter

MANILA, Philippines — An increase in local rice supply and production is expected to temper any potential hike in prices despite the lifting of the ban on rice imports, according to the Department of Agriculture (DA).

“We are not expecting an increase in rice prices because production has improved,” Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa said in a press briefing on Thursday.

De Mesa, also the DA spokesperson, said that government data showed an improvement in the country’s rice inventory despite a three-month import ban, while retail prices were relatively stable.

Local rice stocks were up by 5.8 percent to 2.7 million metric tons (MT) as of Dec. 1, boosted by inventories of the National Food Authority depositories and households, according to Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) data.

The PSA is expected to give a briefing on palay (unmilled rice) production around the last week of January.

De Mesa said the temporary import ban not only propped up palay prices but also prevented any possible increase.

“Actually, one effect was that it halted the continued decline in the farm-gate price [of palay],” he explained.

Lower demand

“More importantly, it proved that even without imported rice, there was no sudden price increase. It means that the volume of imported rice entering into the country is beyond what the country actually needs,” De Mesa told reporters.

Based on the DA’s price monitoring, local regular milled rice was priced per kilogram (kg) from P35 to P43 as of Wednesday, higher than P38 to P48 exactly a year ago. Local well-milled rice was sold per kg at P38 to P49, from the previous P40 to P52.

On the other hand, the price of imported regular milled rice per kg ranged from P35 to P45, lower than the previous P40 to P48. Imported well-milled rice per kg was sold at P43 to P51, higher than P40 to P54 previously.

The country imported 3.37 million MT of rice last year, a decrease of 29.9 percent from a record high of 4.81 million MT in 2024, data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) showed.

The arrival of imported rice slowed down between October and December last year with the implementation of the ban, hovering at around 27,000 MT from almost 40,000 MT per month.

Expected arrival

The government imposed the import restriction on regular and well-milled rice on Sept. 1 last year to counter the sharp decline in palay prices. Initially scheduled to last for 60 days, it was extended until the end of 2025 to protect local farmers against downward price pressures from imported rice, sustain market stability and safeguard consumer welfare.

Imports resumed on Jan. 1 this year, and according to the BPI guidelines, all imported rice shipments should reach the country within 60 days from the issuance date of import clearances.

The imports will be allowed to enter through 17 ports nationwide: Subic, Batangas, Manila International Container Port, Port of Manila, Cebu, Cagayan de Oro, Iligan, Davao, General Santos, Tacloban, Tabaco in Albay, Zamboanga, Bacolod, Iloilo, Tagbilaran, Dumaguete and Calbayog.

De Mesa said the DA expects rice imports to hit “less than 4 million metric tons” this year.

Published Date: January 9, 2026