Unmilled rice output in the Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice importers, is forecast to reach 4.47 million tonnes, below the government's January forecast of 4.59 million tonnes, the Bureau of Agricultural Statistics (BAS) said, citing unfavourable weather.
"The decline could be attributed to contraction of harvest area and drop in yield due to the adverse effects of typhoons intense heat, insufficient water supply, incidence of pests and diseases, and strong winds," the BAS said in a report. The latest projection is still 3.9 percent higher than last year's first-quarter output of 4.31 million tonnes, the BAS said in a report. The Philippines imported a total of around 1.7 million tonnes of rice in 2014, the most in four years. It may buy 1.6 million tonnes this year, according to a forecast by the United States Department of Agriculture.