The Department of Agriculture (DA) countered the report of their counterpart in the United States that the Philippines has overtaken China as the top rice importer in the world.
Based on the USDA’s Grain: World Markets and Trade report, it is estimated that the Philippines’ total rice imports for 2022–2023 will reach 3.9 million metric tons, which is higher compared to China’s 3.5 million metric tons.
As for the 2023–2024 marketing period, the projection for the country’s rice importation is 3.8 million MT compared to China’s 3.5 million MT.
However, DA Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian said that the Philippines is expected to import less than 3.8 million MT this year.
Even next year, Sebastian said that rice imports are not expected to reach 3.8 million MT due to the strengthened measures to increase local production.
He insisted that there is a need to bolster the own harvest due to the lack of assurance in external sources of rice and the high price of imported rice
