THE COUNTRY’S total rice inventory fell to 2.18 million metric tons (MT) as of August, down 6.3% from the 2.32 million MT recorded in the same month last year, the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
The PSA said the year-on-year decline was driven by decreases in rice stocks held by the National Food Authority (NFA) and households.
On a yearly basis, rice stocks in NFA depositories fell by 32.2%, from 452.74 thousand MT in August 2025 to 306.82 thousand MT in August 2026.
Rice stocks held by households also declined, slipping 0.3% from 837.94 thousand MT last year to 835.84 thousand MT this year.
The PSA data also showed that rice stocks declined month-on-month, falling 13.3% from the 2.51 million MT recorded in July.
Of the total rice inventory in August, 47.5% was held by the commercial sector, 38.4% by households and 14.1% by NFA depositories.
The Department of Agriculture (DA) earlier assured that the country’s rice supply would remain sufficient through the end of the year, citing rice imports and the start of the harvest season. DA says rice supply sufficient through 2026 amid imports, harvest
Although the NFA has so far procured barely half of its 790,000-MT palay procurement target for 2026 from farmers, the agency also assured that the country’s rice buffer stocks would not be affected. (GMA News)
