Browse Data and Analysis

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) has approved the lowering of the milling recovery rate (MRR) of palay to rice from 65.4 to 63.0 percent.

On February 7, 2025, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) released Sugar Order No. 2 (SO2) authorizing the voluntary purchase of 500,000 metric tons (MT) of raw sugar to avail of an allocation in the government’s sugar importation program.

On February 18, 2025, the Philippines notified the World Trade Organization Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade of the Department of Finance’s Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 001-2025.

U.S. agricultural exports to the Dominican Republic reached an all-time record of $2.2 billion in 2024; a 6 percent increase from the previous record set in 2022. The increase was driven mainly by strong demand for consumer-oriented products.

On February 11, 2025, the Sugar Regulatory Administration (SRA) issued Sugar Order No. 3 (SO3), allowing new applications for construction and expansion of bioethanol facilities using molasses as feedstock provided certain conditions are met.

On January 24, 2025, the Philippine Department of Finance announced the issuance of Joint Administrative Order (JAO) No. 001-2025, which provides the implementing guidelines of the pre-border technical verification (PTV) and cross-border electronic invoicing (CEI) of all imported commodities.

The Philippine Department of Agriculture (DA) declared a food security emergency related to rice on February 3, 2025, citing an extraordinary increase in prices.

On December 17, 2024, the Dominican Republic issued Decree 693-24, to limit rice imports into the country. The Decree establishes a quota of 23,300 metric tons (MT) for U.S. rice, subject to a 0 percent ad valorem tariff.

The Philippines' private label grocery market is projected to reach $896 million in 2025, representing seven percent of total food and beverage grocery sales.

The Philippines operates a two-stage inspection process to clear imported agricultural products. Under the Department of Agriculture (DA) Administrative Circular No. 6 (2022), DA conducts a physical inspection at the port (first stage, known as the first border) and at the authorized premise or warehouse (second stage, known as the second border).

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. signed Republic Act (R.A.) No. 12078 on December 9, 2024, which extended the implementation of the Rice Competitiveness Enhancement Fund (RCEF) until 2031.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (PFDA) reiterated its jurisdiction on the regulation of veterinary drug products. The PFDA clarified that it shall regulate finished products for therapeutic purposes for animals, including veterinary drugs, medicated feed products, and antimicrobials.