TOKYO, June 23 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 119,988 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States, Canada 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 a 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
6,735*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
23,340*
Dark Northern Spring
29,075*
(protein minimum 14.0%)
Canada
Western Red Spring
31,438*
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Australia
Standard White (West Australia)
29,400**
Shipments:
* Loading between July 21 and Aug. 20
**Loading between Oct. 1 and Oct. 31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture