Philippines expands corn import quota to ease livestock feed costs

Cheaper animal feed should help Philippine hog farmers cope with low farmgate prices, the Department of Agriculture said on October 28, following a government decision to expand corn imports under the minimum access volume scheme.

Executive Order No. 129 adds 280,000 metric tons to the quota, taking it to 500,000 metric tons. The increase is intended to address an estimated yellow corn shortage of about 1.422 million metric tons during March–December 2026 and prevent domestic shortages from pushing feed prices higher.

Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said affordable corn supplies were necessary to sustain animal feed production, contain meat production costs and safeguard food security without adding pressure on consumers.

The department put feed's share of hog and poultry production costs at about 50% to 60%. Corn contributes around 50% to 65% of feed costs. It had warned that Middle East tensions and a possible prolonged drought could hurt corn output and yields.

Separately, the department has proposed a 10-percentage-point increase in pork import tariffs for 2027. In-quota imports would face a 25% duty instead of 15%, while the out-of-quota rate would rise to 35% from 25%. The department reported 6% growth in domestic hog production during the first half of 2026, alongside high pork imports and inventories.

Another proposal would halt the issuance of sanitary and phytosanitary clearances for pork imports for two months. The department said pork supplies could cover 170 days and prices were unlikely to rise ahead of Christmas.