Rice imports to Philippines banned until October 30

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the suspension of imports of milled and polished rice for 60 days, Inquirer.net reported.

Pursuant to Executive Order No. 93 issued on August 30 and signed by Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin on August 29, rice imports will be suspended from September 1 to October 30, 2025.

“Upon the recommendation of the Department of Agriculture (DAP), the import of milled and polished rice is hereby suspended,” the order said.

The order cited a DAP report issued on August 8, 2025, which stated that “the high local rice production in early 2025 and the large influx of imported rice in the preceding months due to the reduction in import duties led to a sharp decline in prices in the market.”

“The Department of Agriculture is of the view that it is necessary to suspend the import of milled and polished rice for 60 days, coinciding with the peak harvest, to allow the domestic market to absorb local supply, stabilize prices, and help Filipino farmers sell their rice at a fair and reasonable price,” Marcos said.

The suspension of imports will not apply to specialty rice varieties that are not commonly grown by local farmers.

Tags: Philippines, rice, restrictions