Philippine corn production and imports seen to rise
Philippine corn production is seen to grow slightly by 0.6% in MT 2025/26 to 8.2 million MT, but this will not be enough to meet local demand.
Corn production in the Philippines is forecast to grow slightly by 0.6% year-on-year, reaching 8.2 million metric tonnes (MT) in Marketing Year (MY) 2025/26, according to a report from the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) in Manila. It attributed the increase to better weather conditions and continued government support.
However, local production is not expected to meet the country’s growing demand, particularly from the broiler, layer, aquaculture, and pet food industries. The pig industry is also projected to gradually recover, aided by government efforts to repopulate hog farms.
Rising corn demand and imports
FAS Manila forecasts feed corn consumption to grow by 2% in MY 2025/26, reaching 7.75 million MT. Broilers have the highest usage of feed corn (50-60%), followed by layers (40-50%), swine (20-40 %), and aquaculture (30-35%).
Corn remains the preferred feed ingredient among local producers due to its higher nutritional value compared to feed wheat and broken rice. The composition of feed ingredients is not expected to change significantly in MY 2025/26.
Increase in corn imports
The Philippines is expected to import 1.75 million MT of corn in MY 2025/26, marking a 7.4% increase year-on-year, as domestic production fails to keep up with rising demand.
Between July and December 2024, import prices of corn in the Philippines fell, following global trends. Corn from Brazil, the US, and Myanmar became cheaper, leading to higher imports compared to the same period in 2023. However, corn from Argentina and Vietnam became more expensive, causing a drop in imports from these countries.
Looking ahead, global corn production is expected to rise, likely pushing prices down further. As a result, corn imports in the Philippines are projected to increase in MY 2025/26.
