The Philippines is set to resume rice import by January 2026, following months of suspension under an executive order issued earlier this year. The Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed that the government will announce a new rice import tariff rate by mid-December to ensure a stable supply and sufficient buffer stock ahead of the next harvest season. In this context, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said during a press briefing in Quezon City, “We have to start importing by January because we need to maintain adequate rice reserves before the next harvest. Definitely, rice imports will resume early next year.”
Rice Import Ban Extended Until December 2025
The announcement follows President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr.’s issuance of Executive Order No. 102, extending the rice import ban on regular milled and well-milled rice until December 31, 2025. The initial ban, declared in August, was originally set to end on October 30, 2025, but has now been extended to protect domestic farmers and stabilize prices.
Tariff Rate to Be Revised Before Imports Resume
Secretary Laurel clarified that the government will not immediately restore the 35% rice import tariff. He explained that the tariff adjustment must consider international price trends to avoid burdening consumers.
“If we start importing now, global rice prices could rise. Increasing tariffs too soon could make rice more expensive for consumers,” he noted. In June 2024, Executive Order 62 reduced the rice tariff rate from 35% to 15% until 2028, as part of an emergency measure to counter rising international rice prices. However, with global rice prices now easing, a review of the rate has become necessary.
Global Prices Drop by Nearly 50%
As far as international rice trade news is concerned, According to the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), international rice prices have dropped by nearly 50% — from $680 per metric ton to around $330 per metric ton. The group urged the government to fully restore the 35% import tariff, saying that the 15% rate was a temporary measure meant for crisis conditions that no longer exist.
“The longer the reduced tariff stays, the more damage it causes to our local rice farmers, who are already facing low farmgate prices,” SINAG stated. Data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) shows that the average farmgate price of palay (unhusked rice) dropped to ₱17.11 per kilogram as of August 2025, with some reports of prices falling as low as ₱8 per kilo.
Gradual Tariff Adjustment Planned
The Economic Development Council (EDC), chaired by the President, has adopted a recommendation from the Tariff and Related Matters Committee (TRMC) for a flexible tariff adjustment mechanism. The plan proposes a 5% tariff change for every 5% shift in international rice prices, within a range of 15% to 35%, starting January 1, 2026.
Secretary Laurel said the final tariff rate for 2026 will be determined by December 15, 2025, emphasizing that “one thing is for sure — it will not remain at 15%.”
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