TOKYO, May 18 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 115,491 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States and Canada in a regular tender that closed late on Thursday.
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
20,465*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
24,600*
Dark Northern Spring
34,507* Canada
Western Red Spring
35,919**
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Shipments:
* Loading between June 21 and July 20
**Loading between July 21 and Aug 20
Source: Ministry of Agriculture