The Philippines' rice imports could go beyond 5 million metric tons, the Department of Agriculture said, according to Philstar.com. The warning comes as the country faces a strong El Niño that is expected to bring drought to more areas.
Pagasa, the state weather bureau, forecasts that drought will affect additional regions until March 2027, Inquirer.net reported. BusinessWorld Online also reported that the strong El Niño is expected to bring drought across the Philippines by that month.
The dry conditions are already prompting local responses. A task force on El Niño is being considered in Davao City, according to SunStar Publishing Inc.
The climate threat is also being watched for its economic impact. BusinessMirror reported that El Niño is seen as the biggest risk in the fight against inflation.
Taken together, the reports point to pressure on the country's rice supply, with the agriculture department flagging the possibility of higher import volumes. The drought forecast extends well into next year, meaning the risk to harvests could persist for months.
What to watch next: whether the Department of Agriculture raises its import estimate further, and how Pagasa's drought updates and local El Niño task forces respond as the dry spell develops.
