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. Under the guidelines, imported rice will only be allowed to enter through 17 ports nationwide. This means that rice imports are expected to arrive by the end of February, according to agriculture officials. 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./.

Source: Philippine Star January 09, 2026 14:40 UTC