Wholesale of rice, corn and other cereals
Foreign ownership
Foreign equity in this activity is capped at 40% under the Negative List. A local corporation with structured local control is the usual route to the local market.
Legal basis: FINL A.20 · Section 5 of PD No. 1994
Recommended route
Local corporation, structured control
Foreign equity up to 40%, with a structured local-control arrangement
Joint venture
A Filipino partner holds the balance above the 40% ceiling
Entity types
Which structure fits depends on your goal. Rows that suit this activity are highlighted. Open a row for the full detail.
| Structure | 100% foreign | Sell locally | No PH partner | No capital floor | No entity | Min. capital |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic corporation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 200k |
| One Person Corporation | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 200k |
| Branch office | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 200k |
| Representative officeFits | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | USD 30k |
| Local corporation, minority foreignFits | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | ✓ | ✕ | Lower / none |
| Employer of RecordFits | – | ✕ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None |
| Product holdingFits | – | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | None |
Registration path
- 1
SEC
Incorporate the entity
- 2
BIR
Tax registration and books
- 3
LGU
Barangay clearance and Mayor’s permit
- 4
Regulator
Sector license, if the activity needs one
Emerhub files each step with the government; you provide the documents and information.
Minimum paid-up capital
| Situation | USD | PHP |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic-market enterprise (>40% foreign)Paid-up capital for foreign equity above 40% serving the local market. Legal basis: FIA (RA 7042 as amended). | $200,000 | ≈ ₱11.4M |
| Reduced thresholdAt least 50 direct employees, or advanced technology. Legal basis: FIA (RA 7042 as amended). | $100,000 | ≈ ₱5.7M |
| Export enterpriseExports at least 60% of output. Legal basis: Corporation Code (RA 11232). | ≈ $88 | ₱5,000 |
| Retail trade enterpriseMinimum paid-up capital for foreign retail. Legal basis: RA 11595. | ≈ $439k | ₱25,000,000 |
Bold is the figure the law sets; the other column is an approximate conversion at ₱57 to USD 1.
Licenses & product holding
Alongside SEC incorporation, this activity needs the following regulatory license or product registration before it can legally operate in the Philippines.
- FDA - product & establishment license
FDA License to Operate (LTO) - Food/Beverage/Tobacco Wholesaler
Wholesale trading of food, beverages, or tobacco products requires an FDA LTO as a food/tobacco trader, and each food or beverage product must already hold a valid CPR from its manufacturer or importer of record, under RA 10611 and RA 9711. Raw/unprocessed agricultural commodities (grains, fibers) are not included here - they fall outside FDA jurisdiction.
Emerhub can hold this registration for you.