President Marcos Jr. is planning to extend the two-month rice import ban and increase the tariff on the imported grain to stabilize palay prices during the peak harvest season.
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said on Wednesday: “The duration of the import freeze and the possible increase in taxes on imported rice will be determined once we have more accurate data on supply and prices of palay at the farm gate.”
In a statement following a meeting with Mr. Marcos, Tiu Laurel said the Department of Agriculture has been instructed to make the necessary preparations to extend the import freeze as farmgate prices for the unmilled rice took on mild swings.
The agriculture chief previously hinted at recommending the extension of the import moratorium for at least 15 days pending data validation.
While palay prices have improved in some parts of thecountry, Tiu Laurel explained that the volume of imported rice entering the country is still a significant factor in determining local palay prices
President Marcos imposed a 60-day freeze on rice imports effective September 1 to support local palay prices ahead of the harvest season. It will end on November 2.
Before the import ban took effect, the DA said palay prices have sharply declined due to the surge in cheaper imported rice, spurred by reduced tariff rates.
“Palay prices briefly rose from a low of P8 a kilo to around P14 per kilo before dropping again due to the onset of the main harvest and impact on palay quality of the heavy rains linked to La Niña,” the DA said.
As of September 11, 2025, the latest available data from the Bureau of Plant Industry showed that traders imported 3.08 million metric tons (MT) of rice.
Vietnam supplied the bulk or 2.47 million MT of rice imports, equivalent to more than 80 percent.
