THE Philippines’ rice imports reached an all-time high of almost 2.75 million metric tons (MT) during the first six months of 2026, data from the Department of Agriculture (DA) showed.
This surpassed the previous record of 2.34 million MT seen in 2024, when the country was affected by both El Niño and La Niña weather patterns.
Rice imports for the first half also marked an over 20 percent increase from the almost 2.29 million MT imported during the same period last year.
The country faces the threat of a very strong El Niño later this year and DA spokesperson Arnel de Mesa noted additional challenges, such as higher production costs due to the impact of the war in the Middle East.
He said the DA was taking a proactive stance to protect Filipino farmers, including the imposition of controls or limitations on the importation of premium rice.
He added that the National Food Authority had raised its palay buying price, which will help stabilize farmgate prices that had dropped to as low as P8 per kilogram in some areas last year.
The plunge prompted President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to order a 60-day rice import ban, later extended to the end of 2025.
De Mesa said the DA was still finalizing its planned interventions but stressed the need to ensure stable rice supply volumes until the end of the year.
“We’re doing a careful balance ... to ensure that prices will not rise,” he added. GISELLE JORDAN