Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr, following a Cabinet meeting, announced that rice imports will be suspended for 60 days from September 1 to October 30, 2025, in an effort to stabilize paddy prices and protect farmers during the harvest season.
Government will suspend rice imports for 60 days, from September 1 to October 30, 2025, to protect farmers from falling paddy prices during the harvest season. The decision followed a proposal from Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel, who urged a temporary halt on imports. According to the Department of Agriculture, an influx of cheap imported rice has forced traders to purchase paddy from local farmers at just 8–10 pesos per kilogram, significantly below the production cost of 12–14 pesos. Farmers have blamed imports for driving down farmgate prices.
The suspension will apply to regular and well-milled rice but exclude basmati and other specialty varieties, the Office of Commercial Affairs in Manila confirmed. Industry observers noted that reduced imports will push farmgate prices higher, but consumer prices are also expected to rise by 1–2 pesos per kilogram.
Thai exporters are among those most affected by the suspension. Arada Fuangtong, Director-General of Thailand’s Department of Foreign Trade, said the measure would hit export volumes, with pending orders unlikely to be delivered before the September 1 deadline. Other rice-exporting countries will also feel the impact. Philippine importers, meanwhile, are reportedly considering a petition to allow flexibility for already-contracted shipments or to lift the suspension entirely.
In response, Thailand’s Commerce Ministry is preparing measures to support exporters and expand access to new markets. Strategies include accelerating government-to-government rice deals, such as the remaining 280,000 tonnes under contract with China’s COFCO, and promoting white and parboiled rice exports to high-demand destinations including Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia, and Iraq. The ministry will also lead a trade mission to Japan from September 7–11, 2025, and host Hong Kong rice importers in November.
Thailand is also stepping up efforts to promote its rice internationally through trade fairs and the Thailand Rice Convention (TRC) roadshow, which will feature seminars to update farmers on global demand trends and encourage production of varieties that align with international markets.
In 2024, Thailand’s rice exports to the Philippines reached US$333 million, a 58.69% increase from US$210.45m in 2023. Between January and June 2025 alone, Thailand exported 141,000 tons of rice to the Philippines, representing 3.78% of its total exports. Despite the suspension, Arada said Thailand still expects to meet its annual export target of 7.5 million tons.
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