Phl rice imports continue to mount

The country’s rice imports expanded by over a quarter to more than two million metric tons (MT) from January to May compared to last year’s level, according to the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI).

- JASPER EMMANUEL ARCALAS

Data from the BPI showed that rice imports from January to May reached 2.086 million MT, 27 percent higher than the previous year’s 1.64 million MT.

Industry sources said the increase was due largely to the country’s need to have sufficient stocks of the staple amid threats posed by the dry spell on domestic production.

Almost three-fourths or about 1.522 million MT of rice imports during the period came from Vietnam, which has been the country’s top supplier of the grain. It was followed by Thailand at 319,740.74 MT.

Government data indicated that rice imports from non-traditional sources, particularly countries outside Southeast Asia, have increased exponentially during the five-month period.