The country’s rice inventory at the start of the lean season for palay reached 2.73 million metric tons (MMT), which would be enough for 81 days, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
PSA data showed that the total rice inventory as of July 1 was 6.44 percent higher than the 2.57 MMT recorded in the same period last year. However, it is 15.51 percent lower than last month’s inventory of 3.24 MMT.
“Stocks in the households would be good for 29 days, those in NFA depositories for 27 days, and those in commercial warehouses for 25 days,” the PSA report read.
Of the rice inventory as of July 1, the PSA said nearly 36 percent were with the households, 30.68 percent in commercial warehouses and 33.42 percent in NFA depositories. Nearly 84 percent of NFA stocks consisted of imported rice.
PSA data showed that NFA stocks during the period reached 910,000 metric tons (MT), while commercial warehouses accounted for 840,000 MT. Households
accounted for 980,000 MT.
“Compared with last year, rice stocks in the households and in NFA depositories grew by 2.97 percent and 17.95 percent, respectively. However, stocks in commercial warehouses decreased by 0.23 percent,” the report read.
On a monthly basis, rice stocks in all sectors were lower compared with their levels in June. The PSA said stocks in the households dropped by 16.05 percent, in commercial warehouses by 15.67 percent, and in NFA depositories by 14.76 percent.
The lean season for palay is from July to August—a period when the country does not harvest rice.
During the same period, PSA data showed that total corn-stock inventory reached 215,920 MT, 21.6 percent lower than last year’s record of 275,400 MT.
“Corn stocks in all sectors dropped compared with their levels last year. Stocks in the households decreased by 8.47 percent, in commercial warehouses by 24.47 percent, and in NFA depositories by 64.31 percent,” the report read. The PSA said 77.82 percent of total corn-stock inventory in July was in commercial warehouses, 22.02 percent was with the households and 0.16 percent in NFA depositories.
Corn inventory in NFA warehouses reached 35,000 MT, commercial warehouses accounted for 168,040 MT, while corn in households amounted to 47,540 MT.