By Dean Aubrey Caratiquet
On the heels of a looming two-month suspension of rice imports ordered by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., the Department of Agriculture (D.A.) is closely monitoring the market reactions to the upcoming import ban.
This, as the agency noted an uptick in palay (unhusked rice) prices in six of the 13 major rice-producing regions in the country, according to data from the National Food Authority (NFA).
“We are watching the market’s response to the rice import suspension very closely. If palay prices remain low during the ban, we may consider extending it, or recommend that President Marcos increase tariffs. And if prices of palay rise, we could shorten the ban,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu-Laurel Jr. said.
Global rice prices have fallen significantly this year compared to 2024 due to India lifting its export ban on non-basmati rice last September, bumper harvests in major exporting countries, weaker demand from importers, and reduced tariffs. These factors have encouraged importers to buy more rice from countries like Vietnam.
In April and May, rice importers brought in nearly 970,000 metric tons—almost three months’ worth of consumption—despite record palay harvests. The Philippines’ palay output reached a record 9.08 million metric tons in the first half of 2025, supporting the Department of Agriculture’s goal of an all-time high production level of 20.46 million tons this year.
NFA Administrator Larry Lacson, meanwhile, emphasized that the goal of the import ban is to give farmers extra income, hoping that industry players would not take advantage of this development in the agricultural sector.
Average prices of palay range between P16.98/kg (Central Luzon) to P20.59/kg (Southern Mindanao), with prices remaining stable in Southern Tagalog and Western Visayas at P16.52/kg and P17.60/kg, respectively.
Conversely, prices dropped sharply in Ilocos, Cagayan Valley, Eastern Visayas, Northern Mindanao, and BARMM, with the lowest at P14.43 per kilo in Cagayan Valley and the highest at P21.67 in BARMM.
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