PH to remain world’s biggest importer of rice in 2025 -USDA

The Philippines is projected to remain the world’s biggest importer of rice in 2025 as the country seeks to cater to the continued growth in consumption, with local data pointing to a decline in production in the first three months of the year.

Data released by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) in its monthly global grains report for May showed that the Philippines’ rice imports were projected to climb even higher in the coming year than the expected 4.1 million metric tons (MT).

“[T]he Philippines imports are forecast up to a record 4.2 million tons on continued growth in consumption. The Philippines is expected to again be the largest global rice importer,” the report read.

The USDA cited the expected growth in population and increased tourism for the expected increase in imports, with the latest data indicating 109.03 million Filipinos as of May 2020, and over 2 million foreign tourists in the country from January to April 2024.

For 2024, the USDA expected the country to import 4.1 million MT, an upward revision from the 3.9 million MT estimated in February.

The agency cited a “smalled crop” for the revision, citing the impact of the ongoing El Niño phenomenon and the strong purchases from Vietnam.

The latest data available from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) show a 2.0% decline in the production of palay or unmilled rice in the first quarter of the year. — DVM, GMA Integrated News