TOKYO, March 24 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 126,190 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 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
13,500*
Hard Red Winter
20,385*
(semi hard)
Canada
Western Red Spring
26,755*
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Australia
Standard White
30,230**
(West Australia)
Standard White
35,320**
(West Australia)
Shipments:
* Loading between April 21 and May 20
**Loading between July 1 and July 31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture