TOKYO, April 8 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought 137,486 tonnes of food quality wheat from the United States, Canada and Australia in a regular tender that closed late on Friday.
A tender is normally closed on Thursday. However, the schedule was changed this week due to an administrative reason, an official with the ministry said.
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
14,640 *
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
10,350 *
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
31,000
* Canada
Western Red Spring
24,921 *
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Western Red Spring
34,675 *
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Australia
Standard White
21,900 **
(West Australia)
Shipments:
* Loading between May 21 and June 20
**Loading between Aug 1 and Aug 31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture