PHL receives rice supply feelers from Pakistan

THE PHILIPPINES is considering importing rice from Pakistan to diversify sourcing and cut reliance on traditional suppliers, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said.

In a statement on Thursday, the DA said a delegation from Pakistan met with Agriculture Secretary Francisco P. Tiu Laurel, Jr. and expressed interest in supplying rice to the Philippines due to a surplus in Pakistan.

The DA said any imports would be “carefully calibrated” to domestic needs as the government moves towards achieving ongoing rice self-sufficiency.

“The Philippines welcomes Pakistan rice, but we will limit imports strictly to what the country needs. We will not over-import; food security comes first,” Mr. Laurel was quoted as saying in the statement.

The Philippines is the world’s largest buyer of rice, importing 3.37 million metric tons of the staple grain in 2025 even after it imposed a four-month import ban. The country relies on overseas suppliers to fill gaps caused by weather disruptions and rising demand.

In 2025, Vietnam accounted for 81.46% of Philippine rice imports, while shipments from Pakistan made up just 2.26% of the total, the Philippine Rice Research Institute reported.

The DA said any prospective rice imports from Pakistan would remain supplemental to domestic production and would need to comply with regulatory, sanitary, and quality requirements.

Meanwhile, the DA said Pakistan expressed interest in Philippine products like buffalo meat and other agricultural products such as coconuts, seaweeds, and fish.

“This is about widening our engagement with countries that are not necessarily our near neighbors, in the spirit of world trade and cooperation. Countries need to help each other by exchanging products to strengthen food security on both sides,” Mr. Laurel said. — Vonn Andrei E. Villamiel