Brazil Rice Imports from the Philippines Hit Record High in 2024 at 4.68M metric tonnes

The spokesperson for the Philippines’ Department of Agriculture, Arnel de Mesa, attributed the record increase in rice imports in 2024 to a drop in local production and reduced tariffs.

According to data from the Bureau of Plant Industry, rice imports reached an all-time high of 4.68 million metric tons (MT) in 2024. De Mesa explained that domestic rice production significantly declined, from 20.06 million metric tons in 2023 to 19.3 million in 2024. This reduction was caused by the effects of the El Niño phenomenon and successive storms that devastated agricultural areas.

“Despite the rise in imports in 2024, we remain committed to expanding local production to reduce our dependence on the global market,” De Mesa stated in an interview on Wednesday, January 8.

Source: Planeta Arroz

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