Philippines eyes India, Thailand rice to cut Vietnam reliance

A man rests on sacks of rice along a street in Manila on May 9, 2024. Vietnam supplies 90 per cent of the Philippines’ rice imports - AFP

MANILA: The Philippines, the world’s top rice importer, plans to look beyond its dominant supplier, Vietnam, to ensure steady supplies and competitive prices at home.

The agriculture department is in talks with private importers on purchases from producers like India, Pakistan, Cambodia and Myanmar, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel said in an interview on Friday (May 30). There may also be a "deal” with Indonesia and Thailand, he added.