By Thi Ha 

The Philippines will not impose a ban on rice imports this year as the country braces for the impact of the looming peak El Niño, which could reduce domestic supply.

The country’s Department of Agriculture said in a statement Tuesday the strong El Niño event expected to develop later this year could reduce the country’s paddy output by about 750,000 metric tons, increasing the risk of supply shortages ahead of the dry-season harvest in early 2027, the Philippine News Agency reported.

The country’s rice demand was 13.57 million metric tons last year, well above the domestic supply of 12.40 tons, according to The Inquirer.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said the government aims to maintain sufficiently large rice reserves ahead of the next harvest to better prepare for potential supply shortages.

The decision marks a shift from last year, when the Philippines suspended rice imports from September through December to support domestic paddy prices during the main harvest season.

The import halt by Vietnam’s largest rice market affected delivery schedules for many Vietnamese exporters, forcing some companies to seek orders in Africa and the Middle East.

This year, as of August 3, the Philippines had imported 3.3 million tons of rice. To mitigate the impact of continued imports on local rice farmers, the government has instructed the National Food Authority to procure 500,000 metric tons of paddy during this year’s wet-season harvest.

A rice exporting company in Vietnam’s Dong Thap Province said the Philippines’ decision to continue imports would make it easier for exporters to negotiate contracts for deliveries later this year.

It said demand in the Philippines market is steady, particularly for Vietnam’s fragrant rice varieties, thanks to their competitive prices and consistent quality.

Vietnam exported in all 5.5 million tons of rice in the first seven months, generating US$2.64 billion in revenue, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Environment, up 0.5% year-on-year in volume terms but export declined by 6.7%.

The Philippines remained Vietnam’s largest market, accounting for 45% of total exports, followed by China (19.1%) and Ghana (9.6%).

El Niño is a naturally occurring climate pattern characterized by unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures that can disrupt weather worldwide, often causing droughts in Southeast Asia and reducing agricultural yields.

Published Date: August 7, 2026