TOKYO, May 26 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 117,800 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States and Australia 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 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
23,260*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
21,250*
Dark Northern Spring
35,420*
(protein minimum 14.0 pct)
Australia
Standard White (West Australia)
37,870**
Shipments:
* Loading between June 21 and July 20
**Loading between July 1 and July 31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture