Super El Niño, global shocks and PH’s rice import outlook

The Philippines faces a critical food security challenge in 2026 as projections for rice imports diverge widely. The U.S. Department of Agriculture projects rice imports at 5.1 million metric tons (MMT), while the Department of Agriculture estimates 3.6 to 3.8 MMT, assuming record palay output of 20.3 MMT. The gap reflects the difference between international