The Philippines, among the world's biggest rice buyers, plans to buy more of the grain in 2012 than earlier forecast after typhoons damaged crops, and may start its purchases as early as next month, the Agriculture secretary said on Thursday.
Manila may buy 500,000 to 800,000 tonnes of rice for next year's needs, most likely from Vietnam, as the Southeast Asian country seeks to boost supply after strong typhoons damaged crops in late September to early October, Proceso Alcala said.