Reference Date: 08-June-2026

Plantings of 2026 main paddy crop estimated to be slightly above average

Harvesting of the paddy crop takes place throughout the year, and the main crop, which accounts for 65 percent of the annual production, is harvested during the first half of the year. According to official sources, the area sown of the main crop is estimated to be 3 percent above the five-year average. However, the crops harvested in the first quarter of 2026 are 11 percent below average due to above‑average rainfall amounts during this period. Weather forecasts point to overall average precipitation amounts during the second half of 2026, boosting yield prospects for the minor crop.

Yellow maize for feed use is also harvested all year round and nearly a half of the annual production is attained in the first half of the year. According to official sources, the area planted to the crops being harvested in the first six months of 2026 is near average. Production of the crops harvested in the first quarter of 2026 is officially estimated at 19 percent above average due to excellent yields. Average precipitation amounts, forecast in the second half of 2026, are expected to provide conducive conditions for yields of the second crop, to be harvested in the June to December period.

Paddy and maize outputs officially estimated at above‑average levels in 2025

Paddy production in 2025 is officially estimated at slightly an above‑average level of 3.5 million tonnes, mainly due to an above‑average area planted.

Yellow maize production in 2025 is officially estimated at 1.3 million tonnes, nearly unchanged on a yearly basis and about 5 percent above the five‑year average, as adequate precipitation amounts in San Martin and sufficient irrigation water availability in Ica and Ancash supported crop development and yields. Planted area was similar to 2024 but remained below the five‑year average reflecting ample market supply following above‑average import volumes in 2024 and 2025.

Output of white maize for food use in 2025 is officially estimated at about 374 000 tonnes, similar to 2024 and about 12 percent above the five‑year average. Favourable weather conditions and use of high‑yielding seed varieties boosted crop yields, more than compensating the impact on production of below‑average plantings.

Cereal import requirements forecast at above average in 2026

Cereal import requirements in the 2026 marketing year (January/December) are forecast to remain above average, in line with sustained domestic demand for yellow maize by the poultry sector and for wheat, reflecting growing domestic consumption.

Prices of yellow maize, rice and wheat flour below year‑earlier levels in May 2026

After a short‑lived increase in the past month, wholesale prices of maize declined in May 2026 and were 7 percent lower year‑on‑year. The low prices reflect large import volumes as well as an above‑average harvest in 2025.

The sustained declines of rice prices that began in February 2025 continued in May 2026, and prices were nearly 25 percent below their year‑earlier levels, reflecting above‑average harvests in 2024 and 2025, and higher year‑on‑year imports in 2025.

Wholesale prices of wheat flour remained stable in the first five months of 2026, reflecting adequate market supplies. Prices were slightly below their levels of the previous year in May 2026 due to higher year‑on‑year imports between January 2025 and March 2026.

Disclaimer: The designations employed and the presentation of material in this information product do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.

This brief was prepared using the following data/tools:
FAO/GIEWS Country Cereal Balance Sheet (CCBS) https://www.fao.org/giews/data-tools/en/ .

FAO/GIEWS Food Price Monitoring and Analysis (FPMA) Tool https://fpma.fao.org/ .

FAO/GIEWS Earth Observation for Crop Monitoring https://www.fao.org/giews/earthobservation/ .

Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) https://www.ipcinfo.org/ .