TOKYO, March 1 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 113,167 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States and Australia in a regular tender that closed late on Wednesday.
Japan, the world's sixth-biggest wheat importer, keeps a tight grip on imports of the country's second most important staple after rice and buys the majority of the grain for milling via tenders typically issued three times a month.
Details are as follows (in tonnes):
COUNTRY
TYPE
Quantity U.S.
Western White
20,092*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
11,230*
Western White
16,100*
Hard Red Winter(semi hard)
12,925*
Dark Northern Spring
25,070*
(protein minimum 14.0%)
Australia
Standard White (West Australia)
27,750**
Shipments:
* Loading between Apr.21 and May 20
** Loading between May 1 and May 31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture