The Philippines’ rice import tariff collections in 2025 are projected to reach just over 13 billion pesos (about USD 224 million), down by around 60 percent from the previous year, as the Government extended the temporary rice import suspension until the end of December.

According to industry sources, the Bureau of Customs (BOC) will no longer collect rice import duties for the remainder of the year, as the suspension effective since 15 September—has been extended to 31 December. This means that the tariff collections recorded from January to September 2025 will represent the final total for the year.

Preliminary data showed that the BOC collected 13.2 billion pesos (around USD 227 million) in rice import tariffs in the first nine months of 2025, down 52.3 percent from 27.7 billion pesos (about USD 476 million) during the same period in 2024. In September, only shipments imported before 14 September were allowed entry. The Government is estimated to lose around 6 billion pesos (about USD 103 million) in the fourth quarter, compared to 6.5 billion pesos (around USD 112 million) collected in the same period last year.

Despite the sharp decline in collections, the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) will remain guaranteed a 30-billion-peso (approximately USD 516 million) budget for next year, as provided under existing laws. The RCEF is mainly sourced from rice import tariffs and aims to support the modernization and development of the domestic rice industry.

The RCEF’s allocation was initially set at 10 billion pesos (about USD 172 million) but was later raised to 30 billion pesos following a review of the program’s first phase and the BOC’s revenue performance. Should rice tariff collections fall short of this amount, the shortfall will be covered by the Department of Agriculture (DA) budget.

Under the 2026 National Expenditure Program, the 30-billion-peso allocation for RCEF has already been included in the budget of the Office of the Secretary of Agriculture. However, the Congressional Policy and Budget Research Department (CPBRD) has warned that the record-low 15 percent rice import tariff rate implemented this year could significantly reduce total collections.

The CPBRD noted that even if rice tariff collections in the first half of the year were doubled, the total would reach only about 20 billion pesos (around USD 344 million)—still short of the RCEF’s 30-billion-peso appropriation. It further cautioned that sourcing the deficit from the DA’s budget could force the RCEF to compete with other agricultural programs for funding.

Experts have also warned that the projected decline in rice tariff collections may add further strain to the Government’s limited fiscal space, potentially increasing reliance on borrowings to sustain rice-related programs.

In 2024, the BOC recorded a historic high of 34.2 billion pesos (around USD 589 million) in rice import tariffs. However, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the Government has decided to extend the rice import suspension until the end of December 2025. Rice imports will temporarily resume in January 2026, before another suspension is imposed in February, coinciding with the start of the local harvest season.

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