Representatives from the USA Rice Federation and the Philippine Rice Industry Stakeholders Movement, or PRISM, have signed a memorandum of understanding in Manila to reopen and expand American rice trade to the Philippines, reviving a long-standing commercial partnership that officials say will strengthen food security and open new market opportunities for both nations. The agreement was concluded Wednesday alongside the International World Rice Conference, with details released publicly Thursday.
Starting in 2027, the two industry bodies target the shipment and purchase of 100,000 metric tons of bagged or bulk US-origin rice annually, rising to 200,000 metric tons each year by 2028. Both organizations committed to working closely with their members and respective government agencies to ensure smooth and timely implementation of the trade flow. The deal marks a return of US rice as a significant supplier to the Philippines, recalling a period from 1999 to 2007 when the US was a major provider, with commercial ties stretching back to the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s through arrangements with the National Food Authority.
USA Rice President and CEO Peter Bachmann noted rice has long been a cornerstone of bilateral economic relations, describing the MOU as both a recognition of shared history and a step forward for both sectors. He said the agreement gives Filipino buyers another dependable, high-quality source to maintain national grain reserves, while restoring critical export access for American farmers and millers at a time when new outlets are urgently needed. PRISM co-founder Rowena Del Rosario-Sadicon welcomed the partnership, noting the Philippines, as the world’s top rice importer, stands to gain a reliable supply channel to help meet national requirements and stabilize supply conditions.
Latest data from the Bureau of Plant Industry show imported rice arrivals reached 3.98 million metric tons as of September 24, 2026, with Vietnam remaining the dominant source at 2.72 million metric tons or 68 percent of total imports. Current price monitoring in the National Capital Region as of October 5 shows non-program local well-milled rice selling at P50 per kilogram and regular-milled at P48 per kilogram, while imported well-milled rice is priced at P48 per kilogram and imported regular-milled at P43 per kilogram. Premium and specialty varieties range from P50 to P60 per kilogram across both local and imported stocks.
