The Philippines' unmilled rice output in the first half is now forecast to hit 8.27 million tonnes, lower than the government's initial estimate of 8.55 million tonnes after a weaker-than-expected harvest in the first quarter, the statistics office said on Friday. The Southeast Asian country's output of its staple food is forecast to drop 4.21 percent in the second quarter to 3.9 million tonnes from a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said in a report.
But output in the third quarter, which is considered a lean harvest season, may rise 11 percent to 3.38 million tonnes, the PSA said. The Philippines, one of the world's biggest rice importers, is keeping its doors open for more purchases this year after recent deals totalling 500,000 tonnes with key suppliers Vietnam and Thailand.