Philippines halts import licenses for rice from Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar

The Philippines has stopped issuing sanitary and phytosanitary import clearances (SPSICs) for rice shipments from Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar, multiple trade sources told Platts, part of S&P Global Energy.

The move comes as the Philippines enters its peak domestic rice harvest season in October-November, with the government seeking to bring down rice prices amid relatively high prices for imports from Thailand and Myanmar, while SPSIC issuance is expected to resume around mid-November, sources said.

A Philippine trade source said SPS import clearances for rice from Thailand, Vietnam and Myanmar are being limited as the country enters its peak harvest season. The source added that the measure is also intended to ease rice prices, with Thai and Myanmar rice currently considered expensive. SPS issuance could resume around mid-November, the source said.

The decision is expected to have an immediate impact on Philippine demand for rice from the three origins, particularly Thailand and Vietnam, both key suppliers to the market.

A Bangkok-based source said Thai rice prices were expected to ease following the development, with the market remaining quiet on the day.

Market participants expect the impact on Thai prices to become more visible over the next few weeks as reduced Philippine buying works through the supply chain.

Wanniwat Kitireanglarp, deputy secretary general of the Thai Rice Exporters Association, said Thai prices could begin to soften within the next couple of weeks following the reported restriction on SPS clearances.

"So, in about two weeks, we should see the Thai price soften slightly. DA wants to see prices coming down a bit, so I think this will work as all three origins' prices went up due to the Philippines," Wanniwat said.

On Sept. 14, Platts assessed Thai 25% broken white rice at $440/mt FOB, down $2/mt day over day, while India was assessed stable at $369/mt FOB, Myanmar at $438/mt FOB, down $15/mt week over week, and Pakistan at $381/mt FOB, unchanged day over day.

A Philippines-based buyer said prices for Thai and Myanmar rice were likely to decline following the restriction.

However, another Philippines-based rice buyer said the move could instead put upward pressure on imported rice prices, particularly if the upcoming domestic harvest falls short of expectations after nearly two months of continuous rainfall.

The buyer said reduced availability of Vietnamese Fragrant 5% rice and Thai rice could leave the domestic market more reliant on supplies from India and Pakistan, potentially increasing their presence in the Philippine market.

The buyer described the move as a strategy to encourage consumers to rely more on locally available rice during the harvest season, potentially shifting some demand away from Vietnamese rice.

USDA projects the Philippines rice output for the marketing year 2025-26 (July-June) at 12.35 million mt, down 0.2% from the previous year.

In late July, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the Philippines' actual rice import requirement in calendar year 2026 remains about 3.6 million-3.8 million mt, while imports could increase to around 5 million-5.2 million mt only if additional strategic buffer stocks are required.

Platts assessed Vietnamese Fragrant 5% rice at $454/mt FOB on Sept. 14, down $4/mt day over day.

A Vietnam-based seller said Vietnamese rice prices were unlikely to increase through November.

With SPSIC issuance potentially resuming around mid-November, market participants will be watching the pace of the Philippine harvest, domestic rice prices, and the availability and competitiveness of alternative origins such as India and Pakistan. The timing and scale of any return to the international market by Philippine buyers could determine whether pressure on Thai and Vietnamese prices persists or reverses toward the end of the year.