Rice production in the Philippines to recover next season

Favorable weather and government support will help the Philippines recover in rice production in the 2025-26 season, the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture reported on April 2, World grain reported.

Milled rice production is forecast at 12.25 million tons, up 2.1% from a year earlier. Planted area is set to increase by 2.2% to 4.7 million hectares.

The Rice Competitiveness Fund had planned to end its funding in 2024, but will instead increase it from PHP10 billion ($180 million) to PHP30 billion ($530 million) by 2031. Under the program, rice production from 2019 to 2024 has increased from 18.62 million tons to 20.04 million tons.

The increase in rice production will reduce imports by 1.9% to 5.2 million tons.

Corn production in 2025-26 is forecast to increase marginally by 0.6% to 8.2 million tonnes, supported by favorable weather, government support programs, and growing demand for animal feed.

Corn consumption for feed is forecast to increase by 2% to 7.75 million tonnes, with poultry the main driver of feed demand growth. Food corn consumption is forecast to increase by 1.4% to 2.23 million tonnes, driven by population growth. Corn imports to the Philippines are forecast to increase by 7.4% to 1.75 million tonnes.

Wheat imports are expected to remain stable at 7.2 million tonnes, with consumption expected to increase by 2.7% to 3.75 million tonnes. Wheat consumption is increasing due to both population growth and changing Filipino diets.

Tags: rice, Philippines