TOKYO, Jan 19 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 117,605 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 thrice a month.
Details are as follows (in tonnes):
COUNTRY
TYPE
Quantity U.S.
Western White
14,160*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
19,505*
Dark Northern Spring
34,390*
(protein minimum 14.0 pct)
Canada
Western Red Spring
25,190*
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Western Red Spring
24,360**
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Shipments:
* Loading between Feb. 21 and March 20
** Loading between March 21 and April 20
Source: Ministry of Agriculture