The Philippines imported a record-breaking 4.78 million metric tons (MT) of rice in 2024, Department of Agriculture (DA) spokesperson Assistant Secretary Arnel De Mesa revealed on Monday, Jan. 13.
“As of Dec. 31, 2024, 4.78 million metric tons ang inimport na bigas ng Pilipinas (As of Dec. 31, 2024, the Philippines imported 4.78 million metric tons of rice),” De Mesa said during a press briefing at the DA’s Central Office in Quezon City.
Based on data from the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI), the country’s rice imports in 2024 climbed by nearly 30 percent from the 3.61 million MT recorded in 2023.
Vietnam remained the Philippines’ primary rice supplier, accounting for 75 percent of total imports or 3.56 million metric tons. Thailand followed with 598,157 metric tons, while Pakistan supplied 283,517 metric tons. Other rice exporters included Myanmar, India, China, Japan, Cambodia, Italy, and Spain.
Meanwhile, De Mesa reported a “sharp decline” in international rice prices.
“This means that our maximum suggested retail price (MSRP) for imported rice will further go down,” he said.
On Friday, Jan. 10, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the DA would impose an MSRP of ₱58 per kilo for imported rice starting Jan. 20.
However, some farmers’ groups, such as the Samahang Industriya ng Agrikultura (SINAG), argued that the MSRP should be lower and pegged at ₱45 per kilo.
Over the weekend, former DA Secretary Leonardo Montemayor criticized the DA’s focus on retailers, urging the government to instead address the importers and wholesalers cornering the bulk of the rice market.
By focusing on rice retailers, Montemayor said the DA is allowing importers and wholesalers to reap “windfall profits.
He also pointed out that Executive Order (EO) No. 62, signed by President Marcos on June 20, reduced rice tariff rates from 35 percent to 15 percent to encourage imports and lower consumer prices by ₱5 to ₱7 per kilo.
However, Montemayor noted that the policy failed to meet its objectives, with importers benefiting from billions in tariff savings while consumers continue to face high rice prices.