ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve 

The Philippines and Japan successfully signed the Tier 1 extension deal to boost food security through the APTERR’s mechanism

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The virtual signing ceremony of the Modification to the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) for the Release and Utilisation of Earmarked Stocks under the Tier 1 Programme of ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve between the Philippines and Japan was conducted and facilitated by the APTERR Secretariat on 8 October 2021 under the supervision of Mr. Chanpithya Shimphalee, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat.

 

Attorney Judy Carol L. Dansal, Administrator of the National Food Authority (NFA), the Philippines and her counterpart Mr. Hirakata Yusaku, Director General of Crop Production Bureau, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Japan signed the Modification to the MoC among the witnesses from several agencies including, the NFA, the MAFF, the Mission of Japan to ASEAN, the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines, and the APTERR Secretariat.

 

This significant event marked another achievement of the APTERR under monumental efforts of the Philippines and Japan through the APTERR Tier 1 programme in utilising the earmarked emergency rice reserve to safeguard food security in the country together with strengthening cooperation among the two parties. Furthermore, the Philippines and Japan endeavoured to precipitate the APTERR’s mechanism, especially the Tier 1 and Tier 2 programmes, into practicality for the greater achievement of the APTERR in the future.

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

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 What is APTERR?

 

The ASEAN Plus Three Emergency Rice Reserve (APTERR) is a regional cooperation established under the APTERR Agreement signed by the Ministers of the Agriculture and Forestry of the ASEAN Plus Three at the 11th Meeting of the ASEAN Minister on Agriculture and Forestry Plus Three (AMAF+3) on 7 October 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia. The APTERR was officially established itself as a permanent mechanism and also marked the official launch of the APTERR Secretariat office in Bangkok in 2013. 

 

We are keen to strengthen food security, poverty alleviation, and malnourishment eradication among its members without distorting normal trade, while the common goal of the APTERR Parties is the assurance of food security in the ASEAN+3 region. 

 

 

 

APTEERR Stock Overview APTEER Stock Marker Map with Animation

Current APTERR stock under Tier3 (FY2023-2024)

**The pre-positioned stockpiled system under Tier 3 programme in FY 2024 to ensure a timely rice assistance to people affected by calamities

Current APTERR stock volume (MT)

Lao PDR

400 MT

300 MT

3,000 MT

Total :3,700 MT

Myanmar

500 MT

3,000 MT

Total :3,500 MT

Philippines

322 MT

4,000 MT

Total :4,322 MT

Natural Disasters

 

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WEEKLY UPDATE ON NATURAL DISASTERS
IN ASEAN PLUS THREE

No. 435 792726210d1e7546b7ced88db6894424 

17 – 23 September 2025

  1. Lao PDR
  2. Philippines
  3. Thailand
  4. Viet Nam
  5. China

Lao PDR prepared for flash floods and landslide from Typhoon Ragasa. As of 23 September 2025, the Lao weather bureau issued a flash flood and landslide warning as Typhoon Ragasa was expected to bring thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, and strong winds across the country. Local authorities also urged residents to remain alert and prepare for the impacts of Typhoon Ragasa.

Source: Xinhua. (2025, Sep 23).  Laos on alert as Typhoon Ragasa brings torrential rain.

Super Typhoon Ragasa wreaked havoc the Philippines. On 22 September 2025, Super Typhoon Ragasa made landfall on Calayan Island in Cagayan province, the Philippines, bringing heavy rainfall and raising the risk of storm surges exceeding three metres. The Babuyan Island remained under a high-level storm warning signal, with residents advised to stay away from coastal areas and riverbanks. Businesses and classes across Metro Manila and large parts of Luzon were suspended as outer rainbands began lashing the region, prompting warnings of power outages, landslides, floods, and dangerous seas. Around 20 domestic flights were cancelled, especially at Luzon’s main hubs, while seaports suspended ferry services.

Source: Reuters. (2025, Sep 23). Super Typhoon Ragasa through northern Philippines, triggers alerts across region.

Flooding killed four people in Thailand. As of 23 September 2025, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported four fatalities caused by flooding in the central region of Thailand. More than 250,000 people across several provinces in the Chao Phraya River Basin were affected by annual monsoon floods. Heavy rainfall was forecast to continue in the northern, central, and eastern provinces until 26 September 2025. Residents were advised to remain alert for potential flash floods.

Source: The Straits Times. (2025, Sep 23). Four dead in Thailand monsoon floods.

Viet Nam boosted emergency response to Typhoon Ragasa. Viet Nam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh signed an emergency order on 23 September 2025 to implement rapid-response measures as powerful Typhoon Ragasa approached. Heavy rainfall brought by the typhoon was expected to stuck the northern provinces and the north-central regions of Thanh Hoa and Nghe An on 25 September 2025, posing a risk of flash floods, landslides, dam safety breaches, and urban flooding in low-lying areas. Local authorities were instructed to actively monitor the situation, prepare for worst-case scenarios and be ready for relocating residents before the arrival of typhoon.  Many domestic and international flights were adjusted to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.

Source:  Vietnam Net. (2025, Sep 23). Vietnam mobilizes nationwide storm response as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears; Vietnam News. (2025, Sep 23). Numerous flights affected by super Typhoon Ragasa.

Typhoon Ragasa forced over 400,000 people in China to evacuate. On 23 September 2025, schools and businesses in at least 10 cities were closed ahead of Super Typhoon Ragasa’s impact on southern China. In Shenzhen, 400,000 people were evacuated amid warnings of severe winds, heavy rain, high waves, landfall, and severe flooding. Tens of millions of people and numerous factories were affected by precautionary measures. Railways and airlines were suspended, while some arrival and departure flights in Hong Kong were also cancelled. Schools in affected areas remained closed until at least 25 September 2025.

Source:  The Straits Times. (2025, Sep 23). China orders schools, business shut in 10 cities as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears; NHK. (2025, Sep 23). Powerful Typhoon Ragasa approached southern China, Hong Kong.

Rice Situation

 

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WEEKLY UPDATE ON  ASEAN PLUS THREE
RICE SITUATIONS 

No. 434 792726210d1e7546b7ced88db6894424 

10 – 16 September 2025

  1. The Philippines
  2. Thailand
  3. Viet Nam

The Department of Agriculture (DA) sees rice prices remain stable despite the rice import ban. According to DA on 11 September 2025, retail rice prices will remain at a controlled level despite the government’s rice import suspension. As of 10 September 2025, premium imported rice in Metro Manila was priced between 42 – 52 PHP (0.74 – 0.91 USD) per kilogramme, while local premium rice ranged from 42 – 60 PHP (0.74 – 1.05 USD) per kilogramme. The price of imported and well-milled rice ranges from 40 – 50 PHP (0.70 – 0.88 USD) per kilogramme, and 38 – 52 PHP (0.67 – 0.91 USD) per kilogramme, respectively.  According to DA, attributed the rice deflation to the robust local palay harvest, stable rice stock inventory in the country, record harvests in major rice-producing countries and lower international rice prices.

*1 USD = 57.07 PHP

Source: Philippines News Agency. (2025, September 6). Local rice faces marketability issues amid price competition with imports.

Thai rice export rice prices reaching a Three-Week high. Due to the Thai Baht’s appreciation, Thai rice export prices exceeded a three-week high this week. Thailand’s 5 percent broken rice prices were at 355 – 365 USD per tonne, which is the highest since August 25, 2025, and at 355 USD per tonne last week. Despite the Thai Baht currency, domestic rice prices are currently steady, while demand is slow and supply from various rice varieties continues to increase. Furthermore, on 10 September 2025, the Thai Rice Exporters Association called on the government to take urgent and practical measures to stabilise Thailand’s currency, protect the competitiveness of Thai rice and farmers' income.

Source: Bangkok Post. (2025, September 11). Thai rice prices hit 3-week high on strong baht; Vietnam rates fall on weak demand.

Viet Nam rice price falls due to lower external demand. According to the Vietnam Food Association, on September 11, 2025, Viet Nam’s 5 percent broken rice was quoted at 450 – 455 USD per tonne, falling from 455 – 460 USD per tonne. The decline is impacted by the Philippines' limit the rice imports. Despite the weaker demand, Viet Nam exported 883,000 tonnes of rice in August 2025, an increase of 5.1 percent from 2024.

Source: Bangkok Post. (2025, September 11). Thai rice prices hit 3-week high on strong baht; Vietnam rates fall on weak demand.

 

Viet Nam’s rice export is set to surpass 8.2 million tonnes in 2025. Despite the temporary suspension of rice imports by the Philippines, the total volume of Vietnam’s rice exports for 2025 is expected to surpass 8.2 million tonnes. The growth of export volume is being driven by the rise of shipments to alternative markets such as Bangladesh, China, and South Africa.

Source: Vietnam Plus. (2025, September 14). Vietnam’s rice export set to surpass 8.2 million tonnes

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