TOKYO, Jan 7 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 131,031 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
12,350*
Hard Red Winter
22,730*
(semi hard)
Canada
Western Red Spring
31,336*
(protein minimum 12.5 pct)
Western Red Spring
31,925*
(protein minimum 12.5 pct)
Australia
Standard White
32,690**
(West Australia)
Shipments:
* Loading between Feb 21 and Mar 20
** Loading between Mar 1 and Mar 31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture