The Philippines, one of the largest rice importers globally plans to keep rice importation banned until April 2026 to safeguard its local farmers. However, it will allow a one-month window for inbound shipments in January 2026. Philippines secretary of agriculture, Francisco P. Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the restriction will remain in effect until the end of this year and will be reimposed from February to April of 2026, allowing for imports of the grain within January. The same information was released on the Philippine Department of Agriculture’s (DA) official website.
Rice Importation Ban in Philippines to Continue till April 2026
Given the economic importance of rice in Philippines which is also one of the largest rice importing countries the government seeks to support the prices of rough rice in the 2026 harvest season. And this is one of the main reasons behind DA rice importation ban. Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. said the department is looking to allow about 300,000 metric tons (MT) of rice imports in January 2026, a plan “more or less” approved by President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. following the extension of the rice import ban through end-2025. Mr. Tiu Laurel also said that. “Our imported stocks, which we stopped in September, are estimated to run out by the end of November and we’ll be running on local stocks in December.” The Philippine government had earlier ordered a 60-day suspension of rice imports starting from Sept.1. The suspension was originally supposed to end on Nov. 2 and applies only to regular milled and well-milled rice. Before the rice importation ban the Philippines, the world’s leading rice importing countries had imported around 3.5 million MT of rice as of end-September, overshooting this year’s rice import target limit by 800,000 tons.
Philippines Rice Import Ban Creates a Buzz Among Vietnamese Rice Exporters
Followed by the rice import ban in Philippines, Vietnam rice prices have plunged to their lowest level in nearly three years. Since the Philippines is the world’s largest rice importer and the biggest buyer of Vietnamese rice, the rice impost suspension for 60 days and now its further extension till 2026 is a major blow for rice exporters of Vietnam.