President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has signed Executive Order No. 102, officially extending the suspension of rice imports until 31 December 2025. According to Philippine media, the order was signed on 30 October and was published only last week. The extension aims to protect domestic farmers from downward price pressure caused by imported rice, stabilize the market, and safeguard consumer interests amid global supply volatility.

Source: Bao Thanh nien.

Philippines has officially extended the suspension of imports of regular milled rice and well-milled rice until December 31, 2025, according to Executive Order No. 102 signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. The ban was initially implemented from September 1 and scheduled to end on October 31, 2025. However, due to downward price pressure from imported rice and abundant domestic supply, the Philippine Government decided to prolong the suspension period in order to stabilize agricultural prices and protect local farmers.

The Philippine Secretary of Agriculture stated that the ban is likely to be lifted in January 2026 but may be reimposed between February and April 2026 — the period when the country enters its new harvest season — to support the consumption of domestically grown paddy.

The Philippines has been the largest importer of Vietnamese rice for many consecutive years. However, in 2025, due to a series of import-control measures, Vietnam’s rice exports to the Philippines reached only around 2.9 million tons, a 27% decrease compared to the same period of the previous year. With the newly extended ban, Vietnam’s rice sector is expected to continue facing challenges in 2026, especially in the early months of the year, which coincide with the peak harvest of the winter–spring crop — the biggest crop of the year.

To mitigate risks associated with dependence on the Philippine market, Vietnamese rice exporters have recently been actively expanding into African markets, particularly Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire./.

Source: Compiled by the Multilateral Trade Policy Department, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Viet Nam