Philippines raises preferential corn import quota to 500 thsd tons

The Philippine government has decided to increase its corn import quota under reduced tariff rates from 220 thsd tons to 500 thsd tons to stabilize the domestic market and curb rising feed prices. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed the executive order on October 26, 2026.

Under the decision, the minimum access volume (MAV), which allows corn imports at preferential tariff rates, has been increased by 280 thsd tons. The additional imports are intended to offset domestic corn supply shortages, stabilize compound feed prices and ensure sufficient raw materials for livestock, poultry and feed milling industries.

The Philippine president emphasized the urgent need for measures to contain rising feed and food costs. Insufficient corn supplies could further increase production expenses in the livestock and poultry sectors, ultimately affecting retail prices for pork and poultry meat. Expanding the import quota is intended to ease this pressure on producers and consumers.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture had earlier proposed increasing the corn import quota to help hog and poultry producers cope with potentially higher feed costs. Additional risks to domestic corn production are associated with the threat of El Niño, which could cause rainfall shortages and negatively affect corn yields in the country.

The decision to expand imports comes amid accelerating inflation in the Philippines. Annual inflation rose to 7.2% in September 2026 from 6.1% in August, mainly due to higher prices for rice, electricity, fuel and transportation services. To contain inflationary pressure, the country’s central bank raised its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 5.5% last week. Greater availability of imported corn is expected to provide an additional tool for stabilizing prices in the feed sector and livestock market.

Tags: Philippines, corn