Iraq issues 50,000 tonnes wheat tender

Iraq's state grain board has issued a new tender to buy at least 50,000 tonnes of hard wheat of any origin, officials said on Saturday.

The bidding deadline was May 3 and bids must remain valid until May 8. No shipment times were specified in the tender.

Volumes in Iraq's wheat and rice tenders are viewed as nominal and the country regularly buys more than originally sought.

An official said the grain board's tender announcement said the quantity of "at least 50,000 tonnes of wheat to be purchased was from all origins and the final quantity was the choice of the buyer."

Iraq's last major purchase in the international markets was reported by Reuters on April 22 when Iraqi trade sources confirmed it purchased 100,000 tonnes of US wheat plus 100,000 tonnes of Australian wheat from US supplier Glencore.

This brings to nearly 950,000 tonnes the quantity of wheat purchased by Iraq since February when it resumed purchases after a five month halt.

Iraq is one of the largest importers of US wheat, with yearly import requirements of nearly 3 million tonnes of wheat plus around one million tonnes of rice. (Reuters)

Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.