Manila (VNA) – The Philippines officially returned to the international rice market in early 2026 after lifting its four-month import ban on the commodity that began last September. However, the tariff rate to be applied on imported rice will remain at 15%.
Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) Director Gerald Glenn Panganiban recently issued the guidelines on the resumption of rice importation.
Under the guidelines, imported rice will only be allowed to enter through 17 ports nationwide. Rice imports must arrive in the country within 60 days from the issuance of their respective sanitary and phytosanitary import clearance (SPSIC).
This means that rice imports are expected to arrive by the end of February, according to agriculture officials.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier announced that 500,000 metric tonnes of rice will be allowed to enter the country during this period.
The DA is still managing the entry of rice imports in the market in its bid to protect local farmers’ prices.
The country imported almost 3.37 million metric tonnes of rice last year, about 30% lower than the 4.81 million metric tonnes recorded in 2024, BPI data showed./.
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