Weak peso may push PH rice imports to 5.5 million MT in 2026, PCAFI says

The Philippines’ rice imports could reach 5.5 million metric tons (MT) in 2026 as the weakening peso against the US dollar and declining local palay production raise concerns over supply and importation costs, the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI) said Thursday. PCAFI President Danilo Fausto said the country had already imported 4.8 million MT of rice as of October, with further imports expected to offset potential domestic supply shortages.

Meanwhile, palay production in the third quarter fell 18% to 3.08 million MT from 3.75 million MT a year earlier. The Federation of Free Farmers Cooperatives, however, said the decline was largely due to reduced planting and harvesting areas, noting that the main harvest season falls in October to December.