Rice imports start arriving

Rice imports have started arriving into the country as the off harvest season draws near.

National Food Authority (NFA) Administrator Anthony Abad said the agency is closely monitoring the arrival of rice imports as he gave his assurance that the total contracted volume of 390,000 metric tons will arrive before the lean months.

Records show that as of June 10, a total of 74,800 MT of imported rice have arrived in the ports of Manila, Cebu, Batangas, Zamboanga and Tabaco in Albay. Of this volume, 45,400 MT are from the Vietnam Southern Food Corp.; 20,000 MT from PEC Ltd. of India; and 9,400 MT from the Department of Foreign Trade in Thailand. The balance of 315,200 MT is epected to arrive on or before June 30.

Abad said the NFA is "prepared to address the effects of the El Niño phenomenon on the country’s rice industry." He said the country’s rice stock inventory is currently pegged at around two million tons. This volume is sufficient to last for 82 days based on the average daily rice requirement of 24,600 tons.

"With the timely arrival of our rice imports and the present rice inventory, the country’s rice situation is epected to remain stable particularly during the lean months of July to September," Abad said.

"The NFA’s rice distribution plan ensures that there is enough supply of rice not only in production areas but also in areas where there is a deficit in supply," Abad said. He has instructed the NFA’s personnel nationwide to stay alert in the performance of their duties for El Niño-related operations.