The Philippines entered May with larger rice and corn inventories, providing a cushion against supply disruptions and helping ease concerns over food availability as the country moves toward the next harvest cycle.
Data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority showed rice stocks reached 2.41 million metric tons as of May 1, up 2.2 percent from 2.36 million metric tons a year earlier and 1.3 percent higher than the 2.38 million metric tons recorded in April.
The increase was driven largely by the commercial sector, where rice inventories surged 14 percent year on year and 11 percent from the previous month. The buildup suggests traders and millers have been replenishing inventories amid stable supply conditions and expectations of continued demand.
By contrast, rice stocks held by the National Food Authority fell 14 percent from a year ago, and declined 4.3 percent from April, while household inventories slipped modestly on both an annual and monthly basis.
Households accounted for the largest share of rice inventories at 48 percent, followed by the commercial sector at 38 percent and NFA warehouses at 14 percent.
Corn inventories posted even stronger growth. Total corn stocks stood at 832,810 metric tons as of May 1, jumping 24 percent from 671,100 metric tons a year earlier and rising 4.9 percent from April levels.
The sharp increase was fueled by a 50 percent surge in household corn inventories and a 19 percent rise in stocks held by commercial establishments compared with the same period last year.
More than four-fifths, or 81 percent, of total corn inventories were held by the commercial sector, highlighting the commodity’s importance to the livestock and feed industries.
The higher stock levels for both staple crops could help moderate price pressures in the near term, although market conditions will continue to depend on weather patterns, harvest performance, and global commodity trends in the months ahead.
