About 300,000 metric tons of imported rice must arrive in the Philippines by February 28, or late shipments will be returned to their countries of origin, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.
The deadline is intended to prevent imported rice from coinciding with the peak local harvest in March and April, which could depress farmgate prices.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel emphasized that farmer prices are protected, with commitments secured to buy palay at minimum rates of P17 per kilo for wet and P21 per kilo for dry rice.
As of mid-January, around 178,000 MT of imported rice had already arrived, with prices slightly rising due to a weaker peso but tempered by strong production in India and Vietnam.
The DA continues to manage imports carefully to stabilize supply while supporting local farmers during the harvest season.
Source: PhilNews24 | January 24, 2026
ALL RICE IMPORTS SCHEDULED FOR DELIVERY NEXT MONTH – DA
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