Jasper Emmanuel Arcalas – The Philippine Star

In 2026

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines is projected to remain the world’s top rice importer for the fourth consecutive year in 2026, with total imports hitting 5.5 million metric tons (MT), the US Department of Agriculture said.

The USDA estimated that Philippine rice imports would increase by 100,000 MT from this year’s projected volume of 5.4 million MT, driven by higher demand for the staple.

“The Philippines is expected to remain the largest global rice importer,” the USDA said in a report.

The USDA made its first trade forecast for 2026 in its May report on the global grain market situation. The Philippines has been the largest rice importer in the world since 2023.

The USDA attributed the Philippines’ higher rice imports to population growth, increased tourism and continued importance of the crop as the country’s staple, resulting in higher demand.

The Philippines is the world’s sixth largest rice consumer, with demand estimated to reach 17.7 million MT in 2026, up from this year’s 17.3 million MT.

Meanwhile, the country’s milled rice output may grow to 12.3 million MT next year from the estimated 12 million MT this year, according to the USDA.

The volume, however, is still lower than the record-high 12.62 million MT recorded by the Philippines in 2023.

The country’s ending stocks next year are estimated to remain relatively flat at 3.65 million MT from this year’s level, the USDA said.

The country’s rice imports from January to April reached 1.32 million MT, down by 20 percent to 1.67 million MT, based on Bureau of Plant Industry data.

Department of Agriculture (DA) officials have noted that full-year rice import volume may settle between 3.6 and four million MT if rice imports continue to fall on an annual basis.

The DA remains optimistic that the country will achieve its record-high palay production target of 20.46 million MT, equivalent to nearly 12.89 million MT of rice at a 63-percent milling recovery rate.

Despite higher foreseen rice output this year, the country will still have to import about 3.5 million MT of the staple this year to meet its total requirement, based on earlier estimates by the Department of Economy, Planning and Development.

Published Date: May 14, 2025