By Hien Nguyen 

The Philippines, the top rice importer globally, plans to keep rice imports banned until April to support farmers but allow a one-month window for inbound shipments in January 2026.

Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr., the country’s Secretary of Agriculture, said Monday that the restriction will remain in effect until the end of this year and will be reimposed from February to April of 2026, allowing for imports of the grain within January, according to the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s official website.

The ban, initially set for 60 days starting Sept. 1, was extended by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. late last month, though the exact duration was not specified, as reported by Reuters

According to Tiu Laurel, Marcos is also considering restoring the rice tariff to 35% after it was lowered to 15% last July to help reduce retail prices.

Christopher Morales, Agriculture Undersecretary for Rice Industry Development, said rice supply is expected to reach 3.24-4.06 million tons by year-end, which is enough to support a 60- to 120-day import ban.

He added that the palay harvest is expected to reach a record 20.29-20.51 million tons this year, which is equivalent to 12.78-12.92 million tons of milled rice, despite weather disruptions.

The Philippines has imported 3.5 million tons of the grain by the end of September, roughly 800,000 tons above the necessary amount, according to Tiu Laurel.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture projected last month that the Philippines could import as much as 5 million tons in the 2025-26 season, surpassing major buyers like China.

The extension of the import ban could help maintain high supplies and drive down prices for a staple crop that feeds billions across Asia, where the benchmark rate for the grain has recently dropped to an eight-year low, and Africa, Bloomberg reported.

India, the world’s largest rice exporter, has seen its heaviest monsoon in five years, boosting crop prospects. Global production is set to climb as well, with the UN Food and Agriculture Organization projecting a record 556.4 million tons for the 2025-26 season.

Published Date: October 8, 2025