Philippine rice imports could hit 5.5 million metric tons as peso weakens
An agriculture industry group reported imports of 4.8 million metric tons as of October, with weather-related losses expected to reduce local supplies.
The Philippines could import 5.5 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2026 to maintain supplies, according to Danilo Fausto, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI). He warned that the peso’s weakness against the US dollar would affect those purchases.
In an interview with Super Radyo dzBB, Fausto said imports were expected to exceed 5 million MT. PCAFI reported that 4.8 million MT had entered the country by October and forecast palay losses exceeding a million MT because of Habagat and El Niño during the year.
The Department of Agriculture separately projected rice imports of 5 million MT or more for 2026 to make up for a potential domestic production shortage. It said currency weakness could also affect imports of fertiliser and other products.
Domestic palay production in July–September stood at 3.08 million MT, down around 18 per cent from 3.75 million MT a year earlier. The department said the anticipated decline mainly reflected a reduction in harvested land.
Raul Montemayor, national manager of the Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives, Inc., said the third quarter was largely a planting period, with larger harvests in October–December. He attributed the production fall principally to fewer hectares being planted and harvested, rather than much change in yield.
