TOKYO, Sept 15 (Reuters) - Japan's Ministry of Agriculture bought a total of 149,231 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
16,600*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
8,450*
Hard Red Winter (semi hard)
34,495**
Dark Northern Spring
28,620**
(protein minimum 14.0%)
Canada
Western Red Spring
24,966*
(protein minimum 13.5 pct)
Australia
Standard White (West Australia) 36,100***
Shipments:
* Arrival by Dec. 31
**Loading between Oct. 21 and Nov.20
***Loading between Jan.1 and Jan.31
Source: Ministry of Agriculture